Here we go!

Today is the last day of summer break. And this summer I really did take a break…I only took the required three hours (and that was my writing camp that was only two weeks long). Though I did still work. I worked on my research for my possible dissertation topic, I wrote a couple of proposals, and I worked with my data and set up to further my PST (pre-service teacher) research.

But I also relaxed. I went to my Mom’s for a week to spend time with her and my grandparents. She came to me so we could visit here too. I read fun books ( the Dorthy Must Die Series is a new favorite). I found yoga again and realized why I like it so much. I feel so grounded and stable when I maintain a practice. I found Yoga with Adriene on YouTube and now am signed up for her “members only” site of videos, so I will continue my practice during the semester and onward. I started some new rituals…like taking an Epsom salt bath before bed (this was spurred by the sore muscles from working out, but I remember now how relaxing it is now). I also was bored. Really, really bored. But sometimes it is good to be bored. And I hadn’t been bored in a really long time.

My goal for this semester is to complete my comprehensives and maintain a balance in my life. I am taking two classes and teaching CLT again. I do have a new teaching mate for CLT but I know her and I know we will work well together. I am planning on continuing my yoga practice and continuing to walk my dogs daily, which will be even more important to them because they won’t be running around the house as much with me gone for teaching. I also will continue working on my one pager (or elevator talk) for my topic for my dissertation. It will need to be virtually complete before my comps.

I am now the “senior” graduate student in my program as my friend received her Ph.D. and has moved to Texas to teach. So I am the one who will have to answer the questions of my friends and fellow grad students. In some ways, I feel I am ready for that, in other ways I still feel like I don’t know what I am doing so how am I supposed to help others! But no matter, here we go!