August 1, 2026 – A New Attitude

I can’t believe it’s August 1 already. This spring/summer semester has flown by. Lots has happened and there is lots still to do. I have a tonne of things to do… and I have less than a month to do it. Great ((sarcasm)). Strangely, I like a little pressure, but it’s not a good habit to keep. Typically, I underestimate how long it takes to do something. I need to pick up on the lesson and spend more time on doing things. I like to followthrough, but often I keep too many promises. Some things need to get off the plate, by either doing them or removing them. It’s nice to know I have a choice. I am no longer motivated by the hustle, but rather by doing what feels good and is aligned to what I want to accomplish in life and at work.

For example, I participated in a podcast hosted by Associate Professor Dr. Joseph Shea from UNBC called “Climate Conversations.” He interviewed a dozen or so faculty from UNBC for this project. I accepted the call, and it turns out that I am the first episode of the series. Woohoo!! ((See link below)).

The podcast launched on July 31, 2026. I started to watch it. He is very good at this. I’m somewhat horrified to watch myself speak, but it seems in line to who I am. I got about halfway watching the video and then returned to this blog post. I appreciated the introduction to the episode and summary offered by Joe. I liked how the video was produced and I look forward to the other upcoming episodes.

As for my work, in general. I am working on developing a micro-credential course, I need to do major revisions on a manuscript I had recently submitted (that was based on my doctoral work), I am designing webpages for a research project I am working on, and I need to write a book review. That’s just the high level items on my things to do this month, in addition to writing course outlines, presenting (twice) at the 2026 UNBC Teaching and Learning conference, and concluding the data collection process for one of the studies I am leading. I feel very lucky to do the work that I do and now, as seen in the photo above, I have my own office in my own place. Working from home, I feel, will/can be more productive.

Do not be alarmed by the number of books. I had adopted more than half of these from a friend who was purging out her shelve and I graciously accepted them. They are all education based, leadership based, or Indigenous Education. There are a few literacy books as well as numeracy books too. All of what she offered was very much aligned to the work that I do and like to learn about. I feel that having my office (and doing this work for the first time in my office) offers an opportunity to start anew. I have a clear working space in my home. I love that. I am really enjoying my time in my office and I love that I got to put up the images I got/won from Ed Hill/curling. He signed all of these images, except for one, that I painted myself at one of Ed Hill’s art classes. So, I guess it’s still an “Ed Hill.”

It feels great to be in this space and it feels great to work in a space that feels good. I love that my bedroom is now my bedroom and my dining room is a place to eat. There are clear locations in my place… and my kid now has her own place one building away from my place. She’s close, but in her space. I love that I can tackle the work in this place with my cat quietly sitting at the window sill or behind me on the bench (as seen in the photo). I feel a calm and steadiness that I have never felt before, or at least, never noticed. I am grateful to be in this place and space and look forward to the work I will get done here (and at work too, of course).

Blogging x2 is a weekly habit I would like to keep up with. I fell of the wagon last month due to the workload, but now I feel that I am getting back to those familiar routines and it feels great. My next task after this blog post is to make a list of things to do on my whiteboard that sits in my office. It’s visible and ready to be listed with “stuff to do.” I feel so lucky to do the work that I do. I will not take it for granted. Nothing is forever, but it’s always best to stay in the present. <3