Finding Joy in the Everyday
July 12, 2026 – It’s almost been a month
Wow. My head was down for a few weeks… and it’s been a hot minute since I have blogged and engaged in reflection. It’s been a hot minute and when everything happens, it seems to happen all at once. I had to make a deliberate decision to take a rest this weekend. Even returning to the blog took some intentionality. I started this blog on Friday, thought I would write this blog on Saturday, and here we are on at 4pm on a Sunday afternoon getting to this reflection. One of my criteria for blogging is feeling good about blogging. Right now is the right time. I love listening to and watching Chef’s Table on Netflix and slowly but surely, I’m grounding myself in preparation for next week.
Gosh. Where to start. So much has happened since my last blog post on June 19,2026. I almost feel that I might have a list of things that I’ve done, but overall, what’s been working in my favour is FINDING THE JOY IN THE EVERYDAY. Things that happened in the last month: (1) completing a contract with another institution and doing the best I can despite the circumstances; (2) rewriting a chapter submission, of which totally took a left turn and “rigour” was had; (3) presented at an international network session and made a few new contacts; (4) organized and facilitated the School of Education Retreat; (5) attended a conference on deeper learning and (re)connected with many likeminded folks; (6) reviewed a dissertation as an external examiner and provided formative feedback; (7) reviewed a master’s thesis as committee member and pleased with its transformation; and (8) collaborating with a former colleague to co-write a chapter.
I’ve been working on some other projects… one I am leading, one I am a member of, and anther of which a play more of a supportive role. Other things on the personal side includes participating the Relay for Life (that my daughter was one of the directors co-leading the event), going to physio to work on my hip, and being a part of a study focused on pre-diabetes. Oh… and my kid will make me an empty-nester soon, so there is a tonne of stuff there related to supporting her but transitioning to be living on my own (as an empty nester). It’s a big deal. Some highlights over the last month: (1) meeting a professor from Oxford University who was super supportive of a project I am leading; (2) meeting some incredible students who modelled and taught me more about student agency; and (3) my friend driving me up and down to a conference and we went to the taco stand in Cache Creek where I found my people, place, and food. All good things.
One lesson that one person who has been always a teacher or guide for me… over the last years in Prince George… and he has taught me a valuable lesson about the myths or false narratives that are not true, they are lies that we create in our minds, and they do not serve me. It happened THAT DAY when we had talked. I was humiliated and humbled at the same time… all my doing… but damn, it was/is a lesson I needed to learn. I was shocked by the lesson. Cognitively, it made sense, but when you catch yourself doing it, you have to call a spade, a spade. I could not believe how often I do it and how it’s so important to be authentic and true to oneself, so that you can live in the energy and integrity that you are meant to live in. This way of being takes lots of trust, vulnerability, and humility. Oh man… I am learning. What I am learning is, you have to do what makes you happy and brings you joy. Be true to yourself, be kind, and love life as it comes.