Focus - or lack thereof

I was really committed to the fifteen minute a day thing -- until my poor spouse asked me to view a movie together. I have neglected my marriage partner for some time and it seemed so easy to please him by saying yes. However, it meant saying no to my 15-minute a day dissertation exercise.

Tomorrow! for sure.

Ready for Chapter 1

Today I got the green light to proceed with Chapter 1 of my dissertation. I am definitely abiding by spending at least fifteen minutes a day order to make small steps of progress along the way.

While I was taking the last year of classes, I had the opportunity to work on outside data for another faculty member on our campus, along with my advisor. What a great way to incorporate some of the learning that I was absorbing. We met today for nearly the last time. I have a few more items to add to the list, but it is primarily done. When it is published, my name will be on the list of authors, which is a good way to start!

Ready for my fifteen minutes...

Supportive Reading

So now that we are finished with the written and oral exams (omg - does that one event define the periods of my life, before the written and oral exams (bwoe) and after the written and oral exams (awoe)?), some time is available for relaxing reading. So what do I delve into? Some great reading that I would NEVER have picked up bwoe period of my life. Top on my list is "Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes a Day" by Joan Bolker, Ed.D. - a reassuring, relaxing approach to getting it all done. Another book that was highly (and continuously) recommended by a peer is "The Black Swan" by Nassim Nicholas Taleb. I am on my first of what I expect to be many reading of this incredible tome. Ah, for the days of enjoying a good mystery.....

Now the Work Begins

It literally took me about 4 weeks to recover my 'rhythm' of life after completing my oral exams. Then about another 4 weeks to catch up on the amount of life that I had ignored (how do those dust bunnies grow so large? and who spilled fertilizer on ALL the growing stuff outside?). But I am breathing again and truly just beginning to acknowledge how good it feels to have the exams complete.

AND I have to stay focused on completing my dissertation. Because as good as I feel now, it will be nothing compared to how I will feel when I finish the entire degree and it is behind me.

Of course, I already have my eye on two additional educational conquests after this is done: barbering school (so I will ALWAYS have work) and my 2nd Ph.D.