Is this the end?

Well, that's it last class done, the blogging assessment in. So here I have been contemplating what to do with this blog now. Continue? Finish it? It was for a purpose and that is done with. I have enjoyed it though, and I think it's helping with developing a writing style (for this blog at least).

 So what if no one reads it? Well that's not exactly right, because I think I do want people to check in and read a piece of me. Maybe someone will stumble across my little mutterings and musings as a mature age uni student, and find a little relief, or a moment of recognition in their own overthinking process. 

And with any luck I will actually stop overthinking, and move on to those witty blogs I was going on about!

Writing exercise - Speech

In the words of Rick Astley – Never gonna give you up, never gonna let you down.  Why these words?  Because as first year students we so often are faced with fight or flight.  We are pushed and pulled in so many directions that giving up can seem like the best thing to do.  As a mature age student I don’t only have the pressures from uni, but there’s also the demands of my home life.  Sometimes I want to give up because there are not enough hours in the day.  Sometimes I want to give up because I have 3 x 1500 word essays due in one week, and there is dog hair on the floor, and dishes on the bench, and meals to cook, and lectures to go to.  There ARE things that keep me going though.  I go to my lectures to hear opinions that I may otherwise not be exposed to.  I do my essays, because I have to, but hey, I learn something along the way.  And as for the “at home” side of life - well we, my family, just lower our standards of cleanliness for the 3 months of semester.  Because you know what – each semester is such a short period of time that comes and goes so quickly.  At the end of each of those three months I have learnt something new, and it gives me hope for the future, each subject giving me a new skill or two to add to “future me”, and our “future family”.  It’s for all of us that I never give up, because they are never gonna give up on me.

Week 11 - writing for video

Creative concept:

Video against procrastination – images showing clutter versus clarity, showing typical modern distracting tools when studying, moving to a model student then enjoying life after completing work.  Soundtrack is Procrastination, by Alex Lewis.  The key message is: don’t procrastinate, life is better when you concentrate on tasks at hand rather than allowing distractions like social media and catching up with friends to get in the way – all of these things will be waiting to enjoy once the task is completed.  The slogan is Don’t get distracted – Just act.

Narration Deadlines looming, yet you are still letting yourself get distracted?   It is easy, isn't it, with it all there at your fingertips.   Social media - you are posting about how much study you need to do, instead of doing it   Pinning anti procrastination memes?   Can't say no to coffee dates?   Leisurely lunches with your girlfriends?   How many times have you washed your hair this week?       Don't do it - Just do it   Finish that essay, life will still be there, better than before   Don't exchange one screen for another, you can eat at your desk, your hair is clean enough       Don't get distracted - just act

Visuals Person sitting at desk overflowing with books etc., looking flustered    Facebook    Instagram    Pinterest    Twitter   Coffee    Restaurant scene    Steamy shower    Clock Ticking (all fast images, rotating)   Computer screen, books Sunny skies, happy people, cycling, playing Frisbee, walking dog   Person shutting phone off/putting away   Sitting at desk looking smart Participating in one of the fun activities Don't get distracted - just act (Slower pace) (fade out all except act)

A reflection

Near the end of semester and I can honestly and delightfully say that my class on writing has changed me. It has changed not only how I write, but how I look at writing.  I'm not going to say that I find the process always simple now (there is still all the overthinking after all), but I certainly find it easier and clearer than it was.  The editing process - ruthless.  If nothing else I have become at least better at writing, and the process of editing, than I began.  It has helped, not only in this class, but others, and in my communication in general.  And my confidence!

I am so surprised at myself, for the ease in which I now post, and for actually enjoying this.  There is a part of me that kind of doesn't want to stop.  There is something liberating about this blog, in writing down what I am doing and thinking, in making links from classes to life, having a tongue in cheek laugh at myself, and allowing some seriousness too.  Of course I don't have a wide audience beyond my class following...Oh well, I really have enjoyed it.

Perhaps I have enjoyed it too much.  I have blogged a lot, so many posts.  Which is fine, except I now have to choose my 'best' work for assessment.  There are so many that I am not sure where to start.  Some I can cross off the list fairly easily, they were a bit of fun, not meant to be examples of good writing.  So I have been browsing through, trying to fit criteria, or a formula for the 'best' posts. 

It is fitting at this point to admit that I am totally overthinking this process, doubting that any even fit the criteria.  Trying to predict which my lovely lecturer (suck, suck, lol) will like.  I have picked two at least (I think?).  I will get there.  I am overthinking a little less too....

A confession

Hi, my name is Sarah and I like to write BUT I do not like people to read and judge my writing. What a sensitive Sally. Writing this blog has helped this tremendously. What made me so nervous writing the first blog doesn't bother me quite so much now. And I'm working on sharing my other writing too, letting go enough to let others 'proof read' for me. This is because if writing becomes a serious vocation for me there is absolutely no value to being scared of putting it all out there.

I'm finding that in a weird twisted way it's like having a baby. A writing baby if you will. Once you've been in hospital giving birth and you've had a conveyer belt of staff looking at your nether regions you almost get to the point of "who's looking at my bits today? Have you seen them yet? Let's have a look then". Getting (letting) people to read my work has been a bit like that.

My bravest moment was getting my closest non uni friend to read my work. I was so scared, I put it off for weeks- then I ripped of the bandaid and asked her to take a look. "Read this for a laugh" I said jokingly, but I secretly wanted her to like it at least a little bit. And she's features in some posts as well, which made it more nerve wracking. Thank god she was nice about it ;)

So, I am hoping to turn this into "Hi, I'm Sarah.  Would you like to see what I am working on right now?"

Little snippets

Back in my last life (read pre-uni) I was a dental nurse. I was at a surgery that now seems quite old school. We did things in an old fashioned way. A large part of my chair side job was bringing patients into the room, setting them up in the chair, and chatting with them until the dentist came in. When I first started I thought the reason I was tasked with this was so my boss could make a grand entrance. Over time I discovered what I actually was doing was building a rapport with the patient, forming a relationship with them. It was such a valuable tool, I was able to learn things that they may not mention to the dentist (although he was very good at doing this). It gave me a tool for excellent communication. I was able to translate dentist speak, tailoring it to the patient so they could understand, and also communicate back to the dentist their needs. It also helped me advocate for the patient when I felt they needed it

The upcoming interview I have with a strategic communicator has me revisiting this time at the moment. I have spent a lot of time thinking about some of the amazing and at times heart breaking stories I would be so privileged to hear sitting next to that chair. You see we didn't just talk dental talk. We formed real relationships where nothing was off limits. I was able to hear little snippets into peoples lives that you don't ordinarily get to hear about, from a diverse group of people. I learnt of families ups and downs, of life in the boardroom, wonderful travel stories, some heartbreaking wartime stories. What a privilege. I remember thinking at the time that I would always love to hear more, and that I would love to write them down. 

I am a little nervous about interviewing someone formally, but I am trying to remember that actually I have done this thousands of times before, and to toot my own horn (which I rarely do) I am good at this. (Thanks TC for giving me this amazing gift of learning to really listen to people). 

I hope I can do my interviewees little snippets justice, and I am really looking forward to listening to them. 

It's all about perspective

My first sociology class last semester contained this statement so much I thought I might scream.  Perspective!  How we look at things depends on where we stand.  Righto then.

It is true though, how we look at others, at ourselves, at situations all depends on what side of the fence we are on, how we have seen things in the past.  Perspective can be difficult to keep in check too.  I mean that sometimes we are so clouded by our own perspective that we don't look at it from others.  It seems like a pretty normal thing to do, after all we have all done it at one time or another.  It can be detrimental to only look at things one sided, and although I often forget this I was reminded of this fact this week.

Thanks to those who have reminded me in many different ways to keep looking, to keep things in perspective, but to remember there are others.

So my tip for this week is to take a step back, get a wider view, you might be surprised by what you see. 

Friends have special privileges

Now don't get carried away- not those privileges! I'm talking of the special rights that comes with friendship. Friends get to say things that would be inappropriate or not okay for most people to say. They get to tell you when to pull your head in without reprimand, to tell you your dress looks hideous or you didn't blend your foundation that's probably the wrong shade anyway. In return you can tell them they overstepped the line with that comment, and laugh and cry on their shoulders when the need arises.  Friendship is a special place.

I don't think I am always good at friendships- sometimes I am not sure what kind of friends we are, not sure whether I can call us close friends or whether it should be just acquaintances, and as a result I tend to stand back and wait for the other person to make the moves. 

Friendships are very much like romantic relationships, without all the romantic bits. You meet with someone, and sometimes it's bam! A connection. Or it could be a slow getting to know you. However it works a friendship is a thing that develops and changes over time, hopefully for the better. Like relationships though, sometimes things don't always work out, sometimes you 'break up'. 

 I went through a stage a couple of years ago where I had break ups with friends. It just wasn't working anymore, (it's not you it's me? Vice versa?) and we broke up. One was an explosive breakup. One just a fade out, but in the end those relationships had run their course.

I have some amazing friends to be grateful for though.  Some have been in my life for many many years. Those friends that are like old slippers. We may go long periods without seeing each other, or have times where we see each other everyday, but it is never hard work.  Some are new, our relationships still solidifying, but I can see they are going to be in my life for a long time, because they tick the boxes.

And they have the privileges of above, but mostly I think I have the best part- I have the privilege of have some amazing strong women (and some men) as friends.