Q: So classes start tomorrow, right?
A: Right.
Q: Are you ready?
A: Ish? I have the syllabi made and the first three weeks up on Canvas for everything.
Q: But?
A: I *just* learned my right-hand man for a project won’t be there (having an emergency meeting about it tomorrow), and I’m not looking forward to more AI cheating. But I know I’m going to have at least a few amazing students who will make it all worthwhile.
Q: How’s your annual tradition going?
A: What tradition?
Q: Where you denigrate yourself for not finishing every project, cleaning every corner, and solving all problems.
A: Oh, that. That’s going great, tradition-wise. As per usual, my inner critic is calling me a lazy bitch.
Q: But what did you get done?
A: I taught two courses in just four weeks in Oxford, served on some committees, filled out hours of divorce paperwork, did a day trip to Abingdon, saw a bunch of plays and comedy acts in the UK, hung out in London, prepped for the quarter starting, presented at a conference in Paris, went to a lot of museums there…
Q: But?
A: But yeah, I didn’t finish every project or clean all the corners or solve all the problems. I also didn’t cuddle Snowball enough, or go through all of my grandmothers’ recipe books like I wanted, or do enough stretches.
Q: What about the other aspects of being ready for the term?
A: Well, two of the outlets in the kitchen still don’t work, I have an infection, and the washing machine died a couple of weeks ago and won’t be fixed for almost three more weeks.
Q: How are you going to manage that?
A: Pretty sure that by the fourth session of classes, I’ll be teaching in Halloween costumes. Commando. There is no teacher. Only Zuul.
Your inner critic sounds like a harsh master indeed!
To me it looks like you accomplish all kinds of awesome stuff despite significant adversity. I feel like a fairly successful and productive member of society but still when I read your “(time period) by the numbers” articles it’s hard not to notice that my own numbered accomplishments often pale in comparison. And I have my own personal support staff and Manic Pixie cheerleader.
Your inner critic is just doing her job, but she’s doing it too well. Someone should gently persuade her to be a little less complainy.
Your accomplishments are incredible and inspiring!