Tag: self-awareness

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family anecdotes Random thoughts Reading Review

5/52 Blood over Bright Haven

My older brother recommended this book to me and once I’d finished it, I was surprised by his comment that the MC was so unlikeable.

But I liked her; respected her; understood her.

Possibly it was the difference in our genders which led to such disparity? Our experiences? Our current cultural environments and / or political leanings? He’s a New Yorker; I’m happily ensconced in semi-rural Australia, after all.

Whatever the reason, it was a good discussion about a well-written and thought-provoking novel.

Well worth the read, dear Reader, if you have the time!

And have an amazing week 🙂

– KRidwyn

Categories
Random thoughts Work Writing

1/52 Legacies and New Year’s Resolutions

So I’ll be turning 52 later this year, God willing.

Sounds old-ish. Like I’m someone who’s got some experience under their belt, maybe even some knowledge – or even wisdom! – between the ears. I wonder if I do though.

So it’s the first Sunday in 2026. And in amongst the ‘what will I actually achieve this year?’ might possibly be the formation or continuation of habits that I’m actually proud of.

Ones that may turn into, one day when they’re all grown up, my legacy to this thing called ‘life’. Once I’m gone, I mean.

I just saw this on Facebook.:

I mean, WOW. Someone designed this, and convinced other someones to build it.

And it’s still around, and working, 1000 years later?!

Now *that* is legacy… for all those someones.

What will I do this year, this month, this week, this day – even this minute – that will be a step toward mine?

How will I choose to use my time this year?

Hmmm.

Thanks for being here, dear Reader. May you have a beautiful day and week.

KRidwyn

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Random thoughts Technology Work

Strengths and weaknesses

I’m not so great at the ‘looking in the mirror’ bit. The self-analysis; self-evaluation. I must admit, I’d prefer to remain in the dark and highly self-unaware of my faults; my weaknesses.

Which is why I always dread the self-evaluation that comes with each assignment I complete in this Masters I’m currently attempting. Admittedly, I’m getting better (I think!) and I can recognise, and even acknowledge, some aspects of my personality that I didn’t really know existed – well, on a conscious level, at least.

Like I think I’d be a hopeless manager. (And yes, I need to qualify that statement, for all of you who remember that I used to be IN management positions, as a Head of English and then as a Head of Middle School!)

In Week 1 of this semester, I completed some reading for ‘Management Issues for Information Professionals’ with Katherine Howard that profoundly changed the way I think. There were just a couple of short articles about the difference between management and leadership. One in particular I found thought-provoking enough to re-analyse my own skills in the ensuing reflection. And I realised… I’m hopeless at managing! The day-to-day, ‘Let’s continue to do this, and do it as well as we possibly can’ pales in comparison for me when compared to ‘leadership’, which is the leading of others in a different direction to the one currently travelled. The planning, the organisation, the ‘management of the change’ is I guess the element of management that I absolutely am passionate about. So yes, I am starting to accept that I’m a leader, not a manager.

Maybe that’s why I’m SOOOO in love with my job. I’m breaking new ground. No-one’s been where I’ve been, no-one’s tried doing what I’m doing. And I absolutely LOVE that. Last week I got permission to tweet and update facebook for St Paul’s as part of my job. How cool!!! (We’re @StPaulsLPS, if you’re interested! And our fb page is here – feel free to follow us!) I also set my own goals, and challenge myself to meet objectives that even the Principal and Business Manager believe are pie-in-the-sky. Maybe I’m overly enthusiastic, but I’m looking forward to seeing the results. I’m after full enrolment by the end of 2011. That’s see if it can be done!!!