Nothing much really to report--am just steadily trudging along through the rest of the term. I've come to realize that part of my problem of focusing this term has been due to the fact that I have multiple looming deadlines and too many different pots that are slightly simmering at once. I'm taking a fascinating anthropology course this term, and the professor mentioned in there that technically the human brain caps out at being able to manage about 7 different things at once. So if that's true, then it's no wonder that most of my friends in the program and I have been all over the place. We all are seeing the irony that a program based on improving health is creating havoc in our own healthful outlooks due to stress/time management.
We all have a full course load (with at least one course that requires much more work than normal this term), all are research assistants, all are trying to get our internship paperwork and internships solidified for next term, all are trying to start studying for our 2 hour oral comprehensive exam that comes at the end of our program, all are trying to prepare for graduation, and all of us have a major significant other in our lives. I feel lucky that unlike a couple of my friends, I am not working another job nor do I have children who need/deserve my time as well. How they are able to do it all, I don't know, but it seems pretty representative of the average overworked American.
However I do know how lucky we are to have this opportunity of grad school, to support each other, to have gotten to this time period in our lives. It takes a lot of support, a lot of willpower, a lot of open doors, a lot of hardwork, and a lot of scrimping and borrowing to get here. I know I will eternally be grateful for all the individuals, organizations, and experiences that got me here.
On another note yesterday was the acclaimed Valentine's Day. Luckily I feel that the man in my life is my gift and am glad that he feels the same. There was no need to exchange gifts, no need to glamorize one day, when everyday is a gift in itself. I am much more the type of person who likes to give little things on occasion when I see, make, or can do something that will make another person feel thought of and appreciated. My anti-consumption Christmas has thus transferred to all other holidays as well. I'd just rather appreciate the everyday little moments that themselves are the largest gifts than feel obligated or have another person feel obligated to get something just because "it's what we do." With him being so far away, my best daily gift is just the evening phone call I get to have with him.
As for now, I'm off to trudge along the rest of this weekend. One paper that is due tomorrow evening, a group meeting this afternoon, and I'm hopeful I can make it through the rest of my other book in the next day or two.
I hope you are enjoying a wonderful weekend embracing the little gifts that are daily present in our lives. Have a good one!
1 comment:
Thats interesting, "the human brain caps out at being able to manage about 7 different things at once" - so many of us must be trying to juggle too many things!
On a similar note, I've read a few articles lately that suggest that multi-tasking is very inefficient and that we could accomplish much more if we concentrate on just one thing at a time. Sounds good in theory but I find it very difficult in practice!
Hope things calm down for you soon and Good Luck for that exam.
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