Breathing space....

So far, this MBA programme has been full on. I have not worked full-time since December 2011, so I am really feeling drained by the long hours of sitting, In fact, I have never had an existence like this before. My days have always been broken up into more dynamic chunks. So I was glad for some space this week, at the aptly named Geenlands (Green lands indeed) campus of HBS. What a difference from the more urban Whiteknights campus. And so I began to think about how important it is to deliberately build breathing spaces into our lives. I have been fortunate to have many breathing spaces in my career....breaks that were not planned, yet resulted in significant growth.  They have been wonderful and have given me the opportunity to step back, and engage fully with who I am becoming.

The Personal Development class provided space for relaxed, deep, cleansing and refreshing breaths. But one activity also made me think about the last breath that I will inevitably take. What will be the question that I may ask of myself in that final moment? I may ask myself, did I live a purposeful life? Did I enjoy my life? How will the world ever know I was here? What will be my legacy? I intend to use the breaths that I have to ensure that I can answer all of these questions in a way that will bring a huge smile to my face in that last breath. Until then, the MBA journey continues.....

Living my life as I dreamt it!

Last week, a noble son of Trinidad and Tobago passed away and his son captured his last moments on earth in a wonderful piece. I share the link below. Geoffrey Holder was a wonderful dancer and choreographer. He lived his life's passion and he died doing his life's passion. He was put on this world to dance and dance he did until his last breath, The story struck me and me me think to what extent am I, and others around me, living our passion? I am! I love where I find myself now...back being a student after completing a doctorate. Who could have ever thought? Someone said to me today, he never heard of anyone who had attained the highest academic qualification going back to school. Yet here I am, and I am not alone. You see, my passion is learning, and teaching, and learning some more. I teach best by keeping myself in learner mode. And being a student when you know the other side although sometimes challenging, is most enjoyable. I can feel myself growing. I am not standing still. So like Geoffrey, I will do my own dance, in my own time, in my own life, just as I dreamt it.


 http://www.npr.org/2014/10/09/354529748/this-impromptu-dance-geoffrey-holders-son-tells-one-more-story?utm_campaign=storyshare&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=social

Equality or Equity?

One of my students brought this cartoon to my attention and I find it very useful to use to explore the concepts of equality and equity. 

Just too old.

I learned today that the operating system on my computer (Mac OS X 10.6.8) is too old to connect  to the university's wi-fi system. After two hours of trying, the IT assistant could not connect my computer. Thank goodness for my iPad-mini. But this event made me think...am I too old for this? Are there some university experiences that I cannot connect with because of my age and experience? I mean I have been there done this so many times before, but here I am again. What am I missing out on?