Category: Random Thoughts

Thank you, Dr. Morrison.

Jéri

As seen on my Facebook on 08.07.19

Some of you may know that I am working on a book of essays based on quotes from Black women writers that have inspired me over the years. The first essay and quote I started with came from the unconquerable Dr. Toni Morrison. Yesterday’s news of her passing was a true gut punch, but also a push to finish this book. This is an excerpt from that essay (draft).

If you surrender to the air, you can ride it. — Toni Morrison

Flight comes when you are able to give freely of yourself to the wind. You can’t force freedom. You make an intentional decision to let go. You intentionally take up space and make noise and be present and be you. I am me. I haven’t always been free and some days I wonder if I really am. Am I free when I show up to work for a company that I don’t own? Am I free when I avoid eye contact with the two men staring at me and we are the only people in the train car on a late Friday evening? Am I free when I change my shirt four different times before facilitating a workshop because I feel worried about how much cleavage my naturally large breasts will show and distract from my teaching about cultural competency? Am I free as the Caribbean Sea washes over my body in Cartagena? Am I free when I write poetry about the dreams I have for my nieces? Am I free when I allow my worries from the day to float away into the arms of the man that loves me deeply? I am.

Freedom is personal. It’s defined by our own experiences and history and community. Freedom happens when you give into the wind. Allow the wind to take you to the sands of Cairo and the streets of Crenshaw. Allow the wind to take you to healing and happiness. Allow the wind to take you to entrepreneurship and employment. Allow the wind to take you to early morning meditation and late-night musings.

Rest and Restoration

Jéri

Thanksgiving Break is just a few days away and Winter Break will soon follow. Take this time to rest and restore.

Rest your body and your brain. Take some time away from thinking about work and school and deadlines and students. Catch up with old friends. Spend time with family. Do something alone.

When you’re able to rest, you will often find that you’re then able to be reminded of all of the reasons your chose to pursue teaching or working in education. Rest allows your passion to be restored and as the saying goes “you can’t pour from an empty cup.”

In a recent article about what the brain needs to be creative the author stated–

According to research, the brain gradually stops registering a sight, sound or feeling if that stimulus remains constant over time. You lose your focus and your performance on the task declines.

When faced with a long creative problem, it is best to impose brief breaks on yourself. Brief mental breaks will actually help you stay focused on your task and improve your idea generation approach. A structured downtime can help you do your best work.

We tend to generate redundant ideas when we don’t take regular breaks. If you’re hesitant to break away because you feel that you’re on a roll, be mindful that it might be a false impression. Your brain needs downtime to remain industrious and generate better ideas.