QS PRN

It’s been a while. Well over a year since I’ve visited Napa, for business or pleasure. I suppose that the pandemic is to blame, like many of us who wanted to travel but decided to self-quarantine. Maybe some of use wanted to travel but no shops or stores were open. 

This isn’t a political commentary on the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s simply an observation. Just as many of the businesses wanted to remain open, many of us wanted to get out of the house, many of us could not get out due to concerns about COVID and/or government regulations. 

But, I love the way the way many businesses were able to work around the mandates and directives. Hooray for Napa and St. Helena! 

Now that Daylight Savings Time is upon us, I began thinking about change. This morning, on a long walk, I reflected back on what has happened these last couple months.

Like many people, the pandemic has changed my routines, my priorities, and my sense of normalcy. Yet, that is not necessarily a negative change. The things I took for granted have a renewed sense of meaning. And, priorities have been replaced with healthier options in both the physical and mental sense. 

In late January, I became eligible to receive the COVID immunization due to my position in education. Pfizer was the only option, as all the Modern vaccines appointments were slotted by the time I logged in to schedule my appointment. To be honest, I did not care which vaccine I received...I just wanted to stack the odds against contracting COVID, especially with the changes at school.   

The district has returned to a traditional schedule, and eliminated the hybrid model. And, it will be interesting to see how the 2021-2022 school year plays out. The online school model will run through this year, but it will be interesting to see if the online learning model continues to be an option for students/parents in the coming years. 

My doctoral program continues, under an online model. And, I continue to reflect on my priorities to finish the program, examine career opportunities, and return to the print shop. ⟳ 

2/365 

Some things that have crossed my mind in the last 24 hours: 

• Parkinson’s Law—a task will shrink or expand to fit the time allotted to it. 
• Protect your calendar.  
• The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.

“This past year [2020] has taught me that ritual is the antidote to chaos. Small rituals, when practiced daily, give a sense of order to the mind.”  

ac·cru·al (/əˈkro͞oəl/)

[noun] the accumulation or increase of something over time   

The new year typically prompts review and reflection. Everywhere you look, there are blog posts, news pieces, and clever marketing focusing on the year that was and the year that could be. 

2020 seems to have intensified this cycle. And, while I am not one for resolutions, I have been reflecting on the ways I could improve. My current train of thought: no lame resolutions, only strong executions. With that, I've decided to focus on intent. 

1/365

Where do you get your inspiration? I mean, where do you find your inspiration to create something? Inspiration is something I've thought about this past week, as I wrapped up my final research paper for the Fall term. Like many people, I used to find my inspiration in outdoor places or through conversations with others. With the pandemic, those conversation don't look or feel like they did in the past. Most conversations are digital these days. 

My creative outlet for that inspiration is letterpress printing. Since I began my doctoral program, I have had little time to print. Regardless of what some might say, a doctorate in education is challenging. It demands a lot of time to complete. I knew this going into the program, and I understood that my other pursuits would be set aside for three years. And, I have realized that I miss that time. 

I have missed the time spent with others. I miss the conversations and the activities. I miss the inspiration and the authenticity of in-person conversations. I realize that COVID has altered the way we communicate, and I realize that my doctoral program has altered the time I have available to find that inspiration. Trust that I am not complaining. And, I am thankful to live in such a beautiful part of the world that offers so many opportunities to explore the outdoors for inspiration. I am also thankful for the internet and social media for providing some avenues of inspiration. But, with the Fall semester now over and a pending two-week winter break from work, I am excited to get back into the printshop.

I am stoked to start pulling some fonts, to start inking the machines, and to begin pressing some paper. I suppose I am answering my own question—inspiration comes from the strangest of places sometimes. It doesn't matter where. It simply matters how you use that time.