Boldly going... (copy)

This is a copy of a post from my professional blog "theresasjourneyintoleadership.blogspot.com"


Today I did something out of my comfort zone. I sent in a proposal for a presentation at the regional NACADA (an international advising community) conference. I hate speaking in public, but for once thought maybe I had something worth saying and no one else could say it.


At OSU I am a member of the Veteran Workgroup, and it is this amazing, dynamic and tireless group of people, most of which are NOT veterans, who are working to make the experience of that particular subgroup of students better. The group around the table represents all corners of campus and has helped OSU grow to be seen as the leader in the veteran service effort in Oregon. Go us!

So, I'm part of this great process, with both success and failure behind us, with hope and challenge ahead, and I thought - it's a story worth telling. I am knowledgeable about it, and no one else from the group is going to this conference. A few succinct (yes, I am capable of being brief...) paragraphs and one click of the mouse and off it went into cyberspace.

It may not be selected. I might not have to build up the further courage to actually TELL the story out loud. But I am proud of myself for putting the idea out there and saying that I am open to the opportunity. Part of me (a fairly sizable percentage) wants to pull it back and say 'just kidding!' but it's done.

Just writing the proposal made me realize how proud I am of what this group has accomplished, I am a small player but I get to share in the greater vision and success. It's not just a meeting every third Thursday, it's shared selfless service to make the student experience better. That to me, is what advising should be about, not just confirming course selections and issuing registration PINs, but working to make a difference for individual students.

On looking busy

Today I did a little work and now am looking busy.  I have lots of program windows open and files on my desk.  I answer the phone and there are post-its everywhere, but I'm not really here.

I am walking in the rain, I am organizing boxes under the bed, I am anywhere but 18 inches from my monitor.

I'm not sick, or even tired, just uninterested.  Some days are worse than others.

Trails to nowhere

So, I am in 'training' to walk a half-marathon in April.  What this means is that I have given myself permission to leave the house - alone - for hours at a time with no list of things to accomplish.  I just strap on my shoes (thank you Mike for good ones!) and hit the sidewalk.

Yesterday my goal distance was 8.2 miles in less than 3 hours, putting me at 20 miles for the week.  I wandered Albany and found a bark chip trail.  Despite the mud and darkening skies I turned down the trail.  About a mile down the trail I knew that it was not a 'loop' and I was eventually just going to have to turn around, but trail walking is so much more peaceful and pretty than sidewalking, even if it is a bit slower.  When I got to the end of the trail, marked by a bench, I noticed a smaller footworn path continued on and followed it.  I kept following it as it grew more and more overgrown with evil clothes-snagging blackberry brambles.  I kept following it over fallen logs big enough to require a bit of climbing.  Sure enough at the end of this pathetic track was a locked gate to some kind of wheelhouse.

So I turned around and walked back, being pelted with hail and bleeding from blackberry scratches.  I had plenty of time to contemplate why a trail goes nowhere.  Drug drops? Homeless? Or was it started by one person bushwhacking to see where they could get, and then continued by people like me - somewhat lost but open to adventure?  Did I just contribute to some other poor soul battling their way to a locked fence?

Despite the icy rain, the thorns and the lack of destination, I got in 8.5 miles in 2 hours and 45 minutes of blissful time to be with myself. 

I love my phone

I just discovered I can set certain contacts to always go directly to voicemail  :)   Previously I just stored everyone I didn't want to talk to under one contact called "Do Not Answer".