Research Philosophy ... OMG!!!!

I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then

~Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland~

The second module of the Certificate in Research was entitled Research Philosophy. Where do I even start?

Unlike the other course—Research Methods, from the Passion blog—we did not have an intense week of vignettes. Rather, this was an intense week of reading, self-reflection, and quite a lot of big words that were difficult to pronounce and sometimes understand. Of course there were still lecture sessions, but now they were three hours long and the group work never seemed to stop. I started the week a little worried as the course does have a rather odd reputation on campus. At the very least it is recognized as a necessary evil.

I was not impressed with the four pre-readings for two reasons: (1) there were four of them (I did have other work to do) and none of them a few pages long and (2) was I really supposed to understand them all? Now I love reading, especially things that catch my attention, I can relate to or are well written so I did get through two of them. But two paragraphs into the third one and I felt like Morpheus was trying to make me choose between the blue or red pill to see how far the rabbit hole went. Whoops! Just a tad too much for me!!  In addition to the pre-readings, when I looked at the schedule there appeared to be one or several readings for each session (talk about overload; I really felt like a student.)

I was therefore pleasantly surprised to enjoy the few sessions we had. Moreover, I really enjoyed the group sessions during the week. They allowed us (the students) to learn from each other, talk through what we had learnt, what we didn’t understand and kinda muddle through it together.

Now, about the teaching sessions in more detail… sigh. These sessions were thought provoking, interesting, befuddling at times and sometimes fun. Please do not think this story will have a typical ending i.e. expect poor session but it turned out to be great …no no no… this story has a totally different emphasis. Let me focus on the thought provoking part of the week. Have you ever asked yourself:

• ·         What is reality?
• ·         How do I view reality?
• ·         Are there multiple realities?
• ·         Does the reality of a situation change for the same person?
• ·         What is the truth?
• ·         How do I know that something is the truth?
• ·         Are there several truths?
• ·         Does the truth change according to the perspective of the viewer, thinker or individual?
• ·         Is the truth the same no matter whose point of view it is seen from?

These are the types of questions that were being tossed at us (almost carelessly) during that week. The answers to these questions, or rather our answers to these questions or our point of view would apparently make it easier for us to determine our philosophical positions as it relates to research.

Seriously?!? Who thinks about this stuff? Who wants to do this much self-examination? What was I doing here? Was getting a PhD supposed to make me examine myself and my beliefs? Even scarier: were these questions really that difficult? For some persons I am sure the answers would come very easily because everything in their lives is so clear-cut and sure. But right now, right then especially in the face of all these differing perspectives, what did I really think? What was I sure of? What did I believe?

What do you believe?

Sigh… all this thinking is exhausting. Anyway … the week went by, I believe I participated and I know I learnt something. Words like ontology, epistemology and methodology all became a little clearer; I even think I get interpretivism and positivism. Unfortunately that didn’t mean that I knew the answers to the hard questions or that I was ready to complete the assignment which essentially requires my answers by January.

What do you think? What is the truth?

Some things change...

Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective, and maybe objectivity. 

~Robert Morgan~

I have been thinking for a while what the next blog would be about and honestly could not come up with a good theme, thought or lesson. I have been correcting too many papers to think too closely about blogging, honestly. However, I have had a few fleeting, disjointed thoughts. If I was to attempt to find a common thread among those thoughts, and it may be a stretch, I could say that those thoughts have largely focused on the things that I love about being here or that I am very impressed by here but are very different from my own experience, while others have been about how similar some things are to my home. This blog will focus on the first section of that list—“Some things change”, with the list of things that are different. The follow up blog—”And some things stay the same”, will discuss those things that appear eerily similar.

Some things change:

• One of the most beautiful things I have observed here is that most everyone says thanks to the bus driver as they get off the bus. I LOVE IT!! It’s so polite and it doesn’t appear to be done by most people just because. Rather, it appears to be done out of gratitude. Those who don’t care just don’t say anything. So, as a line of people get out of the bus they look him or her in their face and say: Thank you, Thanks driver, Ta and other similar things. I guess I don’t have to say that I have warmly embraced this habit; it’s beautiful!
• This one is about teaching. Everything seems so well planned. There are set forms for marking, set guidelines as to what each band of marks represents and it is clearly laid out (in all the cases I have encountered so far) what you are looking for with each assignment as you mark. No guessing here! All students have access to these forms and therefore know exactly what they need to do if they want to excel. Puts the responsibility firmly in their hands.
• The library is AMAZING! You can walk in with your bag, phone or whatever. It is just expected that you will be responsible enough to stick to the rules of the floor. That means that if it is a silent floor each person respects that and if it is a group work floor, everyone respects that.
• Have I mentioned that the library is AMAZING!! Let us not even get into the fact that I put my books on an automatic ‘thingee’ and it gives me a receipt for my books and I get an email when they are due back. Returning is just as simple, place the books on the conveyor belt and get a receipt. AMAZING!!! Of course, as cool as this is, I have lost the human interaction (and I do love to chat).

...and some things stay the same

Distance not only gives nostalgia, but perspective, and maybe objectivity. 

~Robert Morgan~

This blog as promised is the follow up from…"Some things change" and will be my list of the things that seem to have no cultural barriers (should I even say that?) A better way to put it may be that this list will include things that remind me of home and make me feel nostalgic… lol (that wasn’t any better.)

…and some things stay the same:

• Students! I so far generally (please note I did not say always) see more effort from the ‘foreign’ students than I do from the ‘local’ students. Doesn’t that sound familiar? When I had a conversation with a member of the Administrative staff about it she said, “Well they pay.” My first thought was I could be in the office at home sitting talking to anyone else in my own Administrative department and they would say something eerily similar if not absolutely the same.
• Shorts! Imagine my shock to come to the UK and see girls in what can only affectionately be termed batty riders (short shorts for those of you not familiar with the term). Lol. Fashion always comes before practicality! A girl has got to look good! Granted, they are wearing tights under them (sometimes very sheer ones), but I in my naiveté could not imagine wearing shorts in this cold weather (before now … hmmmm… I am already rethinking some outfits).
• Penguins! I almost did not believe it when I saw it but I saw a guy wearing his pants below his boxers. I really am naïve when it comes to fashion (Shakes my head) I expect to see this practice in the States; I somehow did not think that in this cold weather that anyone would want their boxers exposed to the elements that sounds like it would lead to a mighty cold butt!! But (lol) in their defence, locals are a lot more used to the weather than I am.

Honestly I am sure there are other things but right now they are not coming to mind. 

Passion

Passion is energy. Feel the power from focusing on what excites you.

~Oprah Winfrey~

 

To complete my PhD I need to acquire some skill doing research which makes sense as it is a body of research. This translates in my programme to completing a Certificate or Diploma in Research, where the Certificate is 60 credits (bare minimum) and the Diploma is 120 credits (nuff work). The first module of this programme called Research Methods finished a few weeks ago and I want to share my observations, and maybe the major lesson.

The co-ordinators of the programme divided it into 12 vignettes (so English) of an hour and 50 minutes each over the week. A bit painful it seemed when I thought about it before, as it meant that we would be sitting in a classroom setting (groan) from 10 am till 6pm daily with reflective group work (really?) to wrap up each day. I did know though that it was a ‘necessary evil’ to complete my major goal, so I put on my happy face and my good attitude and I got ready for the week.

This programme also meant that I would get to meet and ‘socialise’ (maybe interact is a better word…hmmm…) with persons outside of my department as the programme was run by the Business School for all new PhD students, in addition to students completing a Masters in Research (wow). I was betting that they would not allow us to choose our groups but would place us in groups to force interaction so I was sure I would meet some new people.

Each vignette was presented by a Lecturer, Doctor, and Professor (your get my drift) of the Business School’s various departments: Strategy & Organisation, Human Resources, Management Science, Economics, Accounting and Finance, the Centre for Entrepreneurship etc. Each individual presented on a different research method that they used in their PhD work or that they are using in their current research, which meant that we were not discussing the method in isolation but in some context that illustrated how the method could be used and be useful.

Anyway my thoughts on the week:

• I am not a nerd! Some of the people that I met are so intellectual that they can seem intimidating. I was not sure that I could relate to them in my normal fashion, if you know what I mean, where my normal fashion means using small, simple words. (lol)
• I had great fun in some sessions, especially those that utilised active learning techniques and got us up and involved. One presentation I was involved in was especially fun as my team’s topic was about work and play and we tossed ‘a ball’ (wadded up paper) to each other as we spoke. Simple but effective!! ( I was petrified at first, I cannot catch to save my life, so I had the ball first)

• Some sessions were just not what I was expecting and the titles were very deceptive. For example, in the vignette entitled, Historical Methods and Perspective I was certainly not expecting to hear about Colonialism, Feminism and the like, although it did all make some sense in the end. 
• Lunch will be provided does not mean hot food (lol), something I am becoming very acquainted with in the UK. No rice and peas, no macaroni pie, no beef stew peeps. No! Lunch will be provided on a university budget means assorted sandwiches (not cheese paste and tuna… but sexy sandwiches), assorted pastries, cookies, juice, water, coffee and tea.

I think I am taking too long to get to the point.

There was one consistent trait with every presentation, and that was passion. Each presenter had a passion for the research method or the specific research they were discussing. Even the guy talking about an area that to me was more boring than dirt was smiling, animated and passionate about his research, his work and his PhD years or sometimes all of these. But that passion always shone through.

I highlight one individual who was such an inspiration in so many ways. (I don’t have their permission to talk about them so this will be slightly vague) With a first degree in a creative area, an MBA and a PhD, in addition to one of those truly mixed up backgrounds (born here, raised there, studied here, completed research there etc. etc.) the individual shone as an example that being true to yourself, your background and being passionate about your cause and research, no matter how different, can still lead to success in your chosen field.

So what I learnt, what my major lesson was (hmmm how do I put it) is: choose your work, research, (dare I mention them … relationships) and activities wisely because being passionate about whatever it is makes that much more difference. It makes you smile, it makes you animated, it makes you committed, it makes you a better presenter and it will see you succeed.

 

 

 

 

Three encounters ... #3 ... Don't you need special shampoo?

Man can learn nothing except by going from the known to the unknown

~ Claude Bernard ~ 

 

Here is the final instalment of my three encounters.

#3... Don't you need a special shampoo?

Headed up to four weeks in the UK and on my second cold, I had not gotten a chance to wash my hair for a variety of reasons: I was sick twice … stupse…(not washing it then to make me sicker), I had no dryer (bought one last weekend) etcetera…etcetera. I went to the dentist for my first examination and right next door is a salon with dryers. Quick thought that this would be better than holding a blow dryer over my head on my own until my hand hurt and it would make sure that even though I am sniffling I would have a clean, dry head. So, I turned, walked in and up to the desk and asked, “how much would it be for me to get my hair washed and dried?”

She looked petrified. I can’t think of a better word.

“But, don’t you need a special shampoo?”

I responded with a shake of my head and she asked “how do you dry it?”

I am trying to think how I felt at this time, but I can’t think how to explain it; I wasn’t upset, I wasn’t annoyed, I was just determined to get this hair washed and not have to dry it myself. I said, “just a normal hood dryer like the one in the corner over there” as I pointed to the dryer I could see behind her. I could still see some alarm in her expression but after we established that I was willing to do it even though she had no experience with hair like mine and that I didn’t want to make an appointment (there was only one other person in the salon being worked on) she said she could do it for 15 pounds.

She took my coat, settled me in a chair, put on a cape and towels (girls you know the routine) and then asked me to sit at the sink. She started out pretty easy and I could feel that she was being cautious, so I let her do the cautious thing for a while before I told her she could really use her fingers in it and give it a good scrub (which is what I really wanted). It was wonderful … produced a moan, to which she laughed. I could feel her getting more comfortable.

We moved back to the chair, where she settled me under the dryer although she did ask before putting the hood on if there was any particular way I wanted the hair put under the dryer or just how it fell. By this time I understood that the questions were largely from inexperience and uncertainty and she just wanted to make sure she was doing everything right. So I smiled and said that however it fell was fine.

So there I am under the dryer (must be the first time I was glad to be under one), she comes around and asks if I want tea, coffee or something else to drink (WHA?) and then periodically comes to check on my hair as it dries. I must mention that throughout this entire episode nothing on me got wet but my hair at any point which for me is amazing. No spilling at the sink, no water dripping as we went back to the chair and no water as the dryer hood was on (wow!) me and my clothes were dry.

It was an interesting experience, the one patron that was there turned at some point and said to me that my hair was beautiful (I blushed and said thank you) and the lady who washed my hair said I taught her something. I got a price list for other treatments and thought; you know what I would come here again.

 

 

Three encounters... #2 ... Its f*king cold isn't it?

What I enjoy most is travelling to different places and meeting new people. For me, it's all about life experiences, and I'm grateful that acting allows me so many interesting and fulfilling ones.

~Jensen Ackles~

 

Still on that lighter note here is encounter two of my three encounters.

#2 ...Its f*king cold isn't it?

I am walking to the bus stop, on my way to my first rehearsal and nervous when I see a very nice older lady at the bus stop. She was well dressed: nice red coat, black slacks, lovely silver hair which was styled perfectly and a nice bag. I walk to the bus stop and say “Good evening” (I can hear CO quarrelling with me as she reads this, why this black girl don’t hush she mouth nah?).

That lovely lady looked at me and she said, “It’s f*king cold isn’t it?” I must tell you that it is still weird to have a discussion with someone who could be my grandmother and they swear. However, like a lot of the people that I have encountered here she struck up a conversation. She gave me good advice: stock up on vitamin C and take it regularly, make sure I use a lot of garlic, wear several cotton layers to trap the heat and dress warmly at home as the heating has gone up again (her f*king bill is already 50 pound and she doesn’t have the heater on).

She asked where I was from, talked to me about her motion sickness and encouraged me to come to the club she was heading to that was very spiritual and relaxing. Our conversation, though short (she was only going two stops, but she didn’t want to walk because it was f*king cold and her feet hurt) was lovely. She appeared to be a warm, spiritual, spirited lady, who not only liked my accent but encouraged me to do well in my studies and get out to new things and meet new people.

She left by saying she hopes that we meet at the bus stop another time and that I should try to get out to her club. I really wish I could remember the name of it. Sigh.
 

 

Three encounters ... #1 ...You're sexy

I just got one last thing, I urge all of you, to enjoy your life, the precious moments you have. To spend each day with some laughter and some thought, to get your emotions going.

~Jim Valvano~

On a much lighter note, the next three blogs will be based on three encounters I have had since my arrival in the UK.

 

#1 - You're Sexy

On my last sojourn in the UK, I came away feeling quite unattractive or maybe that I should step up my game, largely because I have few (if any) memories of being approached by available men who I was in turn attracted to. So the decision to return was not a light one for my fragile ego… but I digress. Let’s get to the fun part of the story.

Walking back to the flat from the nearby gym, on the first and only Sunday that I attended that establishment, I heard something like a shuffle behind me and being a woman walking alone I looked around. I looked around so that I knew exactly what was going on around me and I wouldn’t be surprised when it got nearer as the noise was not that close yet. I saw a man, shuffling, dragging his feet on a Sunday morning. My quick assessment was oh it’s just a guy on his way home from a really good night of drinking. My look and assessment, in my opinion, was quite brief but having established what was going on behind me, I kept walking home.

The shuffler spoke (to my surprise). “Good morning (or was it hi?)”, and the good manners that was drummed into me and a good dose of that feeling of don’t aggravate the drunk by being rude dictated that I answer, so I replied.

“Good morning.”

“Would you like to come over to mine for a cup of tea?” Please note that I heard this question, replayed it slower in my mind to understand it and it still made no sense. But I definitely knew the answer.

 “No, thank you.”

“Can I have your number?” This conversation (was it really happening?) was getting stranger by the minute so I sped up my walk a little.

“No, I’m sorry”

During this entire episode I was trying to look as though I wasn’t worried and this was all very normal on a Sunday morning (non-threatening is the word that comes to mind, but is it a word?)

 “Okay, I think you’re sexy” he said as he walked away.

It would be remiss of me not to mention that I looked like crap in my opinion, in a big track pants and a jacket covering my sweaty gym clothes. No one could discern anything about body shape about me. But that is what he said … you’re sexy. I think I made it as far as the flat before I started to laugh, shake my head, and wonder “did that really just happen?”

 

Are you homesick yet?

You know wha yuh got not wha yuh gine get

In other words; you know what you have and not what you will get 

 On several occasions over the last few weeks I have been asked: are you homesick yet?

Am I homesick yet?

The definition of homesick according to the Merriam Webster Dictionary is: “sad because you are away from family and home”.

So… am I homesick yet?

There is a comfort to being close to family, and being in the environment within which you were raised. There is a pattern, a rhythm, an ease to everything because you already know or have a good idea of what will happen in most situations.

So essentially what I am being asked is if I miss the pattern, if I am sad because I miss the comfort of being near to everyone who loves me.

 

Do I miss waking up to the sun shining through the window, or waking up to go running outside when the rain didn’t fall? Do I miss being able to get into my own car and drive to my mum’s, dad’s or grandmother’s house and getting something to eat or just to have a chat? Do I miss the comfort of knowing that I will see familiar faces with smiles from those who know, love, like or just see me every day?

I can’t go sit at my favourite desks in the office and gossip with the girls. I can’t call my brother when I feel sick and know that he will be there within moments. I can’t call my girls and sit and chat with them for minutes or hours according to the time or the topic. I just don’t have the comfort of home.

 

I do miss all of those things; I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t. I especially miss knowing that if I don’t cook, I can always find free food (lol). But if I use the dictionary definition I am not homesick because I am not sad because I miss them. The memories make me smile, they make me feel warm (thank goodness) never sad.  

As I look out of the window and look at this new environment, with its pretty leaves, regular buses, and different people, I know that what I do have is an opportunity. I have an opportunity to rise to a new challenge and create a new pattern.

 

What’s the lesson? What did I learn?

Before I left home a colleague said to me that they never intended to really go too far away from home despite an amazing opportunity they had at the time. My only conclusion after that discussion was that they were worried about being homesick or afraid to leave that comfort.

Let the comfort of home be just that, a comfort on the lonely days. Let home always make you smile. Don’t let fear of the unknown stop you from grasping opportunities that can make you a better, more rounded, more experienced person.

I hope that as you read you realise that this lesson does not only apply to persons who are looking to leave country. Grasping opportunities could be big or small, simple or monumental, but they will always be your opportunities. The unknown for each of us is different.

 

 

 

 

Adding to the knowledge, not the bulk

And mind me with each step I am more certain
Everything will turn out fine
I have confidence the world can all be mine
They'll have to agree I have confidence in me

~ lyrics from I have Confidence in me, The Sound of Music ~

This blog is completely out of order, but this event was impactful enough that it had to be posted...

 

Having just attended the welcome reception for the new PhD students, I feel a little overwhelmed and maybe a little energized. No, the better word is inspired. This does not mean that the presentation was not weighty, overwhelming and somewhat daunting. 

It just says that one of the points made in the presentation stuck with me. That point was that we, as PhD. students, can produce one of two types of theses: (1) one that adds to the bulk of theses or (2) one that adds to the knowledge of our area and adds to the world of business as well. I feel inspired to be one of the latter. I feel energized to add to the knowledge and not to the bulk.  I want to, after his discussion, make a (dare I say it …) ‘significant’ contribution.

So on the one hand I want to do well, and want to add something  (here is that word again) ‘significant’ to the body of knowledge but then he also spoke about all these other things that did make me think twice about whether or not I had what was needed to be successful in this endeavour.

For instance, the personality traits that I would need to be successful were itemised. Indeed, nothing was sugar coated. I understood that it would be a long, lonely road, where I will often have to look to myself for motivation and drive. But I also understood that it could be achieved, if I was open minded, listened to those who were there to help me and stood firm and focused.

I start this journey with some trepidation but I also start it with a determination that I must succeed.
 

Ahhhhh (not a scream but a sigh) …

It’s so scary to think that you start something and can’t finish it. It takes a high level of confidence to be absolutely certain that no matter what comes your way you will overcome, persevere and shine. Although you can’t always be too sure, you shouldn’t always be too cocky, because sometimes a good dose of nervousness not only keeps you humble but it keeps you on your toes.  

 

...What's next?

 

The Interview ... OMG!!

~I've always considered myself to be just average talent and what I have is a ridiculous insane obsessiveness for practice and preparation.~

Will Smith

 

 



Where to even start?

Well, as I said in 'First', this all started when I decided that I wanted a PhD. After that, there were so many questions running through my head:

• Should I try to work and complete the PhD?
• Should I complete it at UWI?
• How do you even chose a PhD program?
• What exactly do I want to research?
• Who is the expert in my area?
• Who is doing the cutting edge research in my area?
• If I do leave and complete this PhD, where do I want to go? UK? US? Europe?
• How the hell am I going to afford a PhD?

Long story short (I could be blogging forever if I went through each of these questions), I started doing my research to answer these questions. I then became a little more settled, a little more focused and started applying for a few scholarships with a plan and positive attitude.

After this research (well maybe during the research)  I settled on a university that I was keen on in the UK and applied for a scholarship they were offering. You cannot imagine how happy I was when I received an email saying that I would be having an interview, which would be the final stage before they determined the persons who would be awarded the scholarship. The date was set, the venue was to be Skype (couldn't fly to the UK for an interview) and I still had a plan and a positive attitude.

The day of the interview!

I woke up nervous, and had a few questions that I wanted to ask the interviewers running through my mind, so I wrote them down. I did not think I needed to prepare for questions like: What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? Rather, I was more prepared for: Why do you want to complete a PhD? Why did you choose your particular area of interest?  Why did you choose this university? What do you have to offer?

I had practiced them on my own, I had practiced with a friend. I had done them in point form, in long form. I dreamt about them. I was ready!

 

I had a plan and a positive attitude.

I got dressed, went for my favourite comfort food breakfast at the time (a ham and cheese croissant and a lemonade) and drove down to campus two hours before the interview was scheduled to start. I got to the office and set up my netbook which was to be for Skype only; hooked it up to the internet and turned on my office PC. The office PC was for the documents I had sent in with my application: CV, PhD proposal and the like. I also had my notebook with the questions I wanted to ask.  I opened all of my documents, laid out the notebook and decided to have a trial run. Oops, I forgot to mention; I also had my cell phone with Skype already loaded as a back up.

I started my trial run and had a minor hitch. The Skype would not work on the netbook. It did however, very conveniently, tell me why it wouldn't work and so, I fixed that problem. It still wouldn't work, so I tried something else and I kept trying until I realised the netbook and Skype just were not going to work.

So not panicking yet, I tried the cell phone (it was there for back up) and that wouldn't work either. I moved out of the office and I tried it somewhere else. I did everything I could think of and none of these two tools would work. 

The time for the interview just seemed to be getting nearer and nearer and I was panicking a little now. I decided to call and let the interviewers know that I would be unable to do a video call, because of technical difficulties, but I would be able to do a voice interview. The call was not answered, so I sent a Skype message. Having done that, and now satisfied that I had tried everything possible, I sat and mentally prepared for a voice call. It was now only a few minutes before the scheduled start and I needed to be calm to do a good job.

The electricity went off! OMG!!!!!!

I will not sugar coat it. I was in full panic mode now but I wanted this scholarship and I was going to do this interview. So I called a friend and we hatched a hasty plan for me to drive to their office to do the interview on a borrowed computer .  

I won't go into details of the driving over sidewalks that would make this story too dramatic and you would begin to think I was exaggerating.

I arrived at my friend's office and did not have time for an elaborate setup. I just signed into Skype, (by this time I had missed 4 Skype calls on the phone that would not work) found the headphone jack, (after several minutes and worry) and started.

To this day I cannot tell you what I said in this interview. I have no recollection of the next 11 minutes but I can tell you I called my mother crying like a baby afterwards because there was no way in my mind that I could have been successful.

I decided the following morning that despite my terrible interview, and since I had no idea if I had apologised for the late start or explained why, I should send the interviewers a thank you email and explanation. So, I did. I also started looking for other opportunities because despite this setback I would get my PhD.

Three days later when I received an email saying that I was successful, and  "congratulations on your excellent application and performance in the interview" I was again in tears. I thanked God, I called my mum, I called my friends and I continued to cry but I also now had a new plan and an even more positive attitude.

My opinion after meditation

There is no way that I could have performed in that interview if I was not prepared, if I did not know my material and if I was not passionate about what I wanted and why.

The line from the song that comes to mind is: nothing comes from nothing, nothing ever could.

...What's next?

 

 

First ...

 

~By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is bitterest.~

Confucius

 

 



 

One definition of reflection according to the Merriam Webster dictionary is a thought, idea or opinion formed or a remark made as a result of meditation.

 

I would like to believe that through this blog, I will share the thoughts, ideas and opinions I form after I reflect on my many experiences but I am sure that is not what it will always be. Granted, sometimes I will; I will let you know exactly how I feel and what I learnt from an experience. But there will be times when I will leave it up to the reader to make their own decision, create their own ideas and learn their own lessons.

 

I also do not anticipate that I will focus on any one area of my life. This blog will not focus on my experiences as a teacher or musician (can I say that about me?) or my experiences as a female, but rather, it will be a muddle of the many experiences no matter what sphere of my life they come from.

 

But what prompted little ole' me to start a blog? 

 

What should be an easy answer isn't always, but the simplest answer to that question is: I decided to do a PhD. I decided that if I wanted to be successful in my chosen field it would be necessary for me to have a PhD behind my name. Almost at the same time I decided that if I was to have this qualification, there was no way I was going to be able to pay for it.

 

So maybe I will have a focus, but that focus will be on what has happened since that momentous decision and the ensuing experiences.

 

This was first... What's next?