It’s another Sunday morning. It’s gray, blustery, and surprisingly warm. Spring is slowly sliding in.
This whole last week I have been asking myself the question: How can I turn the challenges of grad school (i.e. loneliness, balancing work with play, deepening my spiritual life) into something more of an engaged exploration instead of the more disconnected and desperate survival that it seems to at least feel like? I know, these are the questions I have the time to actually craft and contemplate. Anyhow, I think that it’s a good question. And I think this (this writing) is a good answer.
This blog started out as such a wonderful way for me to not only share experiences with others while living with my grandparents last year (I should say here that it was Michael David Fox who literally pushed me to do this- thanks Michael), but to also personally process all of the things I was going through. I am really only now (first year of grad school almost over) realizing how shaping and impactful an experience I have begun with moving to Knoxville, TN to get my PhD in Counseling Psychology. I knew it would be a challenging, stretching, and transforming experience, and I have attempted (though quite sporadically) to share some stories, explore my struggles, and offer my insights somewhat. But, as mentioned, it’s been in my usual, sporadic, inconsistent, spur-of-the-moment kind of way.
To return to the original question: How can I turn the challenges of this grad school life into something of a more engaged exploration? This question makes me think of one of my favorite quotations (I think I remember it being attributed to Joan Baez): “Action is the killer of all despair”. While I know better than to think that simply writing in my blog on Sunday mornings will somehow magically make up for my lack of social life, release the stress of the week, and provide me with unlimited spiritual insight, I do know that it will help. In fact, I feel better already.
Welcome to “Getting a PhD in Counseling Psychology: One Graduate Student’s Story of Struggle and Growth”.
Thanks for sending me the link to the blog. I think it's a great idea to be here and process life together since we cannot do this in person- we have the option of writing about it and sharing. I look forward to hearing more of your honest, sincere thoughts about your experiences. I am pushing myself to do the same- write and process w/ people I love! I am grateful? for you- glad to have such an awesome brother who is also looking into more spiritual ways... :)
ReplyDeleteHanj