Reflections

geralt via Pixabay

At school, I teach in stark, blank-walled classrooms -- one of the most jarring differences between a college classroom and one at an elementary school. My office at home, on the other hand, is the polar opposite of that empty canvas, with bits of inspiration intermingled with bits of my personality. A picture of me with my mom when she was younger than I am now. A one-word reminder, cut from an old calendar ("create"). The spent Starbucks gift card collection adorning a foam board covered in a black-and-white, coffee-patterned fabric. The page-a-day calendar insisting that it's February 4.

It's not a coincidence that the new semester started on February 1. The calendar was hidden behind a planning page I'd put up so I could keep some of my brainstorming visible. I took that planning page down last week, having accomplished the tasks on it and, while I'd like to say the calendar is the only thing in my office that's behind, that would be untrue. There are multiple spots in my office that bear testimony to all of the other things that need to be done.

Nevertheless, since I like page-a-day calendars (and I have to bring this one up to date), I thought I'd take a little break and savor the pages from February 4 to March 24, going through them one at a time and sharing a few of the more fun pages along the way.

1. Word: pro-caffein-ating: to delay or postpone action; put off doing something until you've had COFFEE.
2. Quote: "If you're looking for that one person to change your life, take a look in the mirror."
3. Thought: Do it with passion or not at all.
4. Thought: Let your faith be bigger than your fears.
5. Fun fact: Studies show that 6 minutes of reading can cut stress levels by up to 60%.
6. Thought: Be bold or italic, but never regular.
7. Quote: "Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try." (John F. Kennedy)

Sometimes, when I get busy, I look right past all of the out-of-date calendars and fun, intentionally-placed quotes and decor. It takes something like bringing that neglected calendar up to date to make me pay attention to anything beyond the computer screen and lists and notes meant to keep me on track. When I can look past the collected reminders of tasks that need to be done, it's nice to just take a moment and make note of this imperfect space which so clearly reflects the person who regularly inhabits it.

That's the thing about spaces we've made our own -- they have so much to say about us. Anyone stepping down into my tiny former porch of an office could easily discern five things that matter to me within as many minutes. To those who prefer stark, blank-walled spaces, this one would be overwhelming, even after I've called it a day and cleared my desk of for the night.

Though I often wish I had more time to set things in order, I kind of like that this little room reflects its inhabitant -- a Jersey girl who values family and information, who loves Starbucks and is always in the middle of a project or two.

And who sometimes gets too busy to keep track of the calendar, but eventually gets caught up.