I’m just sharing Courtney Carver’s wonderful perspective today instead of writing myself because it resonated so much. Enjoy! https://bemorewithless.com/say-goodbye/  

In two months, I take my exams. Some institutions call them qualifying exams, others call them comprehensive exams. Here — I don’t know — we call them exams. On a Monday, I will take a six-hour essay test during which I will demonstrate my knowledge of broad concepts in nineteenth-century American literature, drawing from my…… Continue reading Afraid of the future

Today’s lunchtime post typed in between bites of a rice bowl is inspired in part by my summer school students, by the current political news, and by a question my mom asked me. I just wrapped up my last class of this summer school cycle. It was an emotional hour and a half, with students…… Continue reading Less fear means more love

We suffer when reality doesn’t live up to our expectations. When we eliminate judgment, we eliminate suffering. Instead of judging or evaluating or measuring the present moment against an ideal we had in our minds, we can practice just observing the present moment. If I could offer one baby step towards letting go of the…… Continue reading Drop the interpretation

I am feeling inspired this week to check in on my 2017 word (see the entry here) because of Sharon’s 52nd episode of Design Yourself. She (and many other personal development podcast hosts I listen to) suggested that it’s a good time to check in on New Year’s resolutions since we’re just past the halfway…… Continue reading Mid-year reflection

These are two of the most important practices I’ve learned this year. I’m very nervous to publish this post. It’s more of the type of writing I might do privately. Sometimes I worry (is this a throwback to old me?) that someone will take something I say personally, even though everything I write on here…… Continue reading It starts with you

Something magical happened with my coach the other night. I can’t explain it very well. It felt like I had a vision of perfect clarity of my innermost core, of the spark that drives me when everything false is pulled away. It was a profound moment, like a flash of blinding light. My coach said…… Continue reading Institutionalization and identity

I’m on a pretty serious struggle bus these days. Trying to juggle prep and grading for my summer course, keep up with coaching work, read and study for exams, plus all my dearly beloved side projects, on top of meal planning and cooking, keeping up with my exercise routine, and, oh, spending time with people…… Continue reading Limits

I just wanted to say: have the courage to earnestly encounter the world. Be as sincere as you can when you can regarding your own life. Of course, I think it’s important to blend in some irony, joking, or edginess. It’s slightly awkward for me to have social interactions with people who are 100% earnest…… Continue reading Earnest pursuits