Last year, during the holidays, I blew up (yelling, cursing, and storming off), and the experience highlighted for me the need to embrace criticisms that I’m “too sensitive,” “too critical,” and “too complaining.” On the day I blew up, I was so overwhelmed, disconnected, and worn down by systemic oppression that my body couldn’t take it. I held myself together until I couldn’t hold it in anymore: then, I released a tidal wave of rage. I’m still processing, but I’m ... Read more ...
courage
From Fear to Love: Working with Emotional Overload
Emotional Overload Is Rooted in Fear Last week I said goodbye to the phone I’d had for more than 3 years, a phone I was attached to more than I’d like to admit. I entered a state of complete overwhelm, spiraling between questions and frustrations, between crying and raging: How could I possibly learn a new phone? Why aren’t there any small phones? How will one of the new—BIG—phones fit in my pocket? It’s not fair that all the phones are large, while women’s pants ... Read more ...
Responding to White Supremacist Terror, This Time in El Paso
I woke this morning in Ireland to news of the El Paso shooting: the latest act of white supremacist terror in the United States. My body was already aching (today’s a rest day after some seriously long walks), but the news ramped up the ache and lodged itself in my chest. I recognized the familiar heartache that comes with shootings and acts of violence, particularly against Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC)—in this case, against Latinx folks in Texas. Along ... Read more ...
Toward Public Outcry: Why I’ll Keep Repeating #AbolishICE and #CloseTheCamps
Outcry: a strong expression of public anger and disapproval This week I dreamed about being detained when traveling, taken aside in an airport and made to wait and wait and wait … It became clear that I was being monitored and considered dangerous and essentially arrested. What started in the airport turned into a full detention / internment / concentration camp experience. The dream’s details are sketchy, but I remember feeling powerless. I couldn’t call for help. I ... Read more ...
What Is Career Discernment?
I’ve encountered this question in recent weeks, since announcing the e-course “Career Discernment for Academics: Aligning Career with Commitments.” Over the past 2-3 years, since working through my own career discernment process and writing about it in Inside Higher Ed, I’ve been thinking about why I’m drawn to the word “career discernment” rather than career exploration or advising or coaching or other options. And now I’m being asked time and again: What is ... Read more ...
Turning 40 with the Gift of 40 Miles: Why I’m Taking Myself on Walks This Month
May is both my birth month and a time of transition (when the school year ends and summer begins). For as long as I can remember, I’ve looked forward to May and its potential for renewal. This year I’m celebrating my 40th birthday and wanting to mark the occasion with extended time on trails. Specifically, I’m setting a goal to hike 40 miles on my own this month: miles that I’ll walk toward understanding how to be independent within interdependence. Why This ... Read more ...
Why Small Sustaining Support Matters for Creators
Since the website launch in December 2018, I’ve been asking for support through Patreon, a platform for creators to make a sustainable income for doing creative work. Asking for support feels scary. It feels bumpy. Yet, it’s teaching me new ways to be in community, collaboration, and connection with others. As Chani Nicholas reminds me, it's important to “ask for what you need,” and so I’m asking that you (dear reader) consider becoming a patron of ... Read more ...
Learning from and Healing Scars, Both Personal and Collective
Over the past year, my body has experienced a few physical injuries, including a concussion from falling last January and a cut from stepping on a broken bowl back in August. The fall left both knees badly scraped and bruised so that scars are still visible on the surface. The puncture in my foot has involved months of getting ceramic out—piece by piece—and an MRI now confirms that “only scar tissue remains.” That scar tissue isn’t visible like the scars on my knees, ... Read more ...
Announcing the Decision to Leave Higher Ed: 3 Responses that Surprised Me
Today the fourth part of my series “Outside Higher Ed” appeared in Inside Higher Ed. This piece shares three common responses to my news of leaving academia: “Good for you. I wish I could leave.” “You’re so brave.” “That’s a really big decision. Will you be ok?” I also share my emotional reactions and processing around these responses, which truly surprised me. More than anything else, I learned through announcing my decision that I’m not alone in struggling ... Read more ...
My New Year’s Resolution = Self-Love for Countering White Fragility
The days leading up to this new year have been bumpy for me, pushing me to recommit to radical self-love. I’ve had some really tough conversations with family around everyday injustice, and these conversations have reminded me why we need a deep well of emotional literacies for confronting complicity. In the midst of one of these tough conversations—in which I was speaking aloud my embodied responses to white supremacy—I shared that my heart was throbbing, and I ... Read more ...
![The online writing group starts this Friday, and there are still a few spots open.
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See link in bio to learn more and register.
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[This image shows a cup of coffee and red flowers alongside a blank sheet of paper and ink pen. It also includes event information: “5 Spots Open! Online Writing Groups. Friday mornings Jan. 31—Feb. 28, 10am EST | 9am CST | 8am MST | 7am PST. Come Write Together: Heart-Head-Hands.com.”]
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#WritingCommunity #WritingGroup #OnlineWritingGroup #writers #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writerscommunity #writersblock #instawritersgroup #academiclife #academicwriting #blogging #grantwriting #dissertation #writingsupport #journaling #drafting #revising #recommitting #publishing #techwriting #supportforwriters #writingsupport #writerssupportingwriters](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/82891878_1396704527156823_5636243404575326129_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=103&_nc_ohc=CxExKx4fvYIAX9oZ9bi&oh=50668fd21639e6355b1ac60049445e32&oe=5EB6F378 "The online writing group starts this Friday, and there are still a few spots open.
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See link in bio to learn more and register.
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[This image shows a cup of coffee and red flowers alongside a blank sheet of paper and ink pen. It also includes event information: “5 Spots Open! Online Writing Groups. Friday mornings Jan. 31—Feb. 28, 10am EST | 9am CST | 8am MST | 7am PST. Come Write Together: Heart-Head-Hands.com.”]
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#WritingCommunity #WritingGroup #OnlineWritingGroup #writers #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writerscommunity #writersblock #instawritersgroup #academiclife #academicwriting #blogging #grantwriting #dissertation #writingsupport #journaling #drafting #revising #recommitting #publishing #techwriting #supportforwriters #writingsupport #writerssupportingwriters")
![Food and writing. Writing and food.
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These are my themes for January with the new webinar (on relationships with food) and writing group (Friday mornings) both happening this week.
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Register for one or both: links in bio.
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[This image taken at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco shows a print journal alongside matcha and mochi (sweet and caffeinated treats): a representation of writing and food.]
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#food #writing #writingcommunity #writers #writersofinstagram #writer #writerslife #blogger #foodblogger #veganblogger #vegan #mindfuleating #foodasmedicine #healing #webinar #writinggroup #writinggroups #conversation #talkaboutfood #relationshipwithfood #journal #journaling #drafting #revising #recommitting #publishing #ongoingeducation](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c3.0.1434.1434a/s640x640/81439807_458531971720100_2874986313181887003_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=108&_nc_ohc=eOtIrvy_qHMAX8Ji1m3&oh=814b79183c67219d3980e7ca1d10697a&oe=5ED261B7 "Food and writing. Writing and food.
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These are my themes for January with the new webinar (on relationships with food) and writing group (Friday mornings) both happening this week.
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Register for one or both: links in bio.
.
.
[This image taken at the Japanese Tea Garden in San Francisco shows a print journal alongside matcha and mochi (sweet and caffeinated treats): a representation of writing and food.]
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#food #writing #writingcommunity #writers #writersofinstagram #writer #writerslife #blogger #foodblogger #veganblogger #vegan #mindfuleating #foodasmedicine #healing #webinar #writinggroup #writinggroups #conversation #talkaboutfood #relationshipwithfood #journal #journaling #drafting #revising #recommitting #publishing #ongoingeducation")
![Thanks to @FSUEnglish for the invitation to share “Not Just a ‘Plan B’: Exploring Alt-Ac, Non-Ac, and Post-Ac Careers” today. I’m excited for today’s conversation about commitment-driven career discernment.
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[Image Description: This flyer for today’s workshop shares the title, a bio and photo of me/Beth, and event information, including: “Spring 2020 English Department Placement Workshop: After outlining her own trajectory through and beyond academia, and discussing possible alternative career paths, Beth will lead us through a series of short reflections before taking questions from the room. Beth brings to this conversation many experiences and has fulfilled many roles beyond higher education, including K-12 instruction, community-based learning, and non-profit work.”]
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Learn more about my work on aligning career with commitments via link in bio. <3
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#HigherEd #CareerDiscernment #Coaching #Support #GradLife #ProfLife #withaphd #gradschoolproblems @gradstudentselfcare @beyondtheprof #gradschool #gradschoollife #altac #tenuretrack #tenured #tenuretrackgrind #teachersofinstagram #faculty #facultylife #workshop #gradstudents #highereducation #higheredjobs #careergoals #careerchange #careeropportunities #commitment #whatsnext🤔 #whatsnext #fridaymotivation](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/c0.44.1440.1440a/s640x640/81720434_155061649263146_4272814565202230046_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=102&_nc_ohc=5VP5Wu_VK8gAX9PJiTr&oh=1b093bd21b351c6d4287c41667b8a8a9&oe=5EB9FB29 "Thanks to @FSUEnglish for the invitation to share “Not Just a ‘Plan B’: Exploring Alt-Ac, Non-Ac, and Post-Ac Careers” today. I’m excited for today’s conversation about commitment-driven career discernment.
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[Image Description: This flyer for today’s workshop shares the title, a bio and photo of me/Beth, and event information, including: “Spring 2020 English Department Placement Workshop: After outlining her own trajectory through and beyond academia, and discussing possible alternative career paths, Beth will lead us through a series of short reflections before taking questions from the room. Beth brings to this conversation many experiences and has fulfilled many roles beyond higher education, including K-12 instruction, community-based learning, and non-profit work.”]
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Learn more about my work on aligning career with commitments via link in bio. <3
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#HigherEd #CareerDiscernment #Coaching #Support #GradLife #ProfLife #withaphd #gradschoolproblems @gradstudentselfcare @beyondtheprof #gradschool #gradschoollife #altac #tenuretrack #tenured #tenuretrackgrind #teachersofinstagram #faculty #facultylife #workshop #gradstudents #highereducation #higheredjobs #careergoals #careerchange #careeropportunities #commitment #whatsnext🤔 #whatsnext #fridaymotivation")
![I’ve been listening to requests to host writing groups, and here’s a first offering—an online writing group to meet Friday mornings, January 31st through February 28th.
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To learn more, see link in bio.
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[This image shows writing tools (phone, keyboard, journal, pencil, and pen) along with the event information: “Online Writing Groups. Friday mornings Jan. 31—Feb. 28, 10am EST | 9am CST | 8am MST | 7am PST. Come Write Together: Heart-Head-Hands.com.”]
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#WritingCommunity #WritingGroup #OnlineWritingGroup #writers #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writerscommunity #writersblock #instawritersgroup #academiclife #academicwriting #blogging #grantwriting #dissertation #writingsupport @iwca_writingcenters @uwmadisonwritingcenter @writing_inspiration @awpwriter #fridaymotivation #fridaymorning](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/sh0.08/e35/s640x640/81661580_214516276238860_6826750115944246944_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=104&_nc_ohc=zifcYDxiCGkAX9gaFP7&oh=34ebce0d85af4598609da7895c06c21e&oe=5EC9F4E2 "I’ve been listening to requests to host writing groups, and here’s a first offering—an online writing group to meet Friday mornings, January 31st through February 28th.
.
To learn more, see link in bio.
.
[This image shows writing tools (phone, keyboard, journal, pencil, and pen) along with the event information: “Online Writing Groups. Friday mornings Jan. 31—Feb. 28, 10am EST | 9am CST | 8am MST | 7am PST. Come Write Together: Heart-Head-Hands.com.”]
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#WritingCommunity #WritingGroup #OnlineWritingGroup #writers #writersofinstagram #writerslife #writerscommunity #writersblock #instawritersgroup #academiclife #academicwriting #blogging #grantwriting #dissertation #writingsupport @iwca_writingcenters @uwmadisonwritingcenter @writing_inspiration @awpwriter #fridaymotivation #fridaymorning")
![Friends in the Midwest:
I’ll be keynoting the MnWE (Minnesota Writing and English) Conference in March, and I’d love to see you at the conference. Proposals are due January 26th, so there’s still time to submit.
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Here’s information about my talk -- link in bio -- and I’ll be facilitating an interactive workshop with Jasmine Kar Tang, too!
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About the keynote:
This interactive presentation engages the dialectic of critique against and critique for: both problematizing “civic engagement” and pointing toward literacy education aligned with justice (social, racial, and environmental justice).
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Together, we’ll consider where investment in civic engagement comes from, particularly at a time when civic participation, civil discourse, and related constructs of citizenship and national borders provide justifications for excluding and dehumanizing people. Power functions in these discourses, people are marginalized and written off, and unintentional acts still do harm, as research on microaggressions show.
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How, then, do we interrupt these injustices? What learning and unlearning is needed now—not only in the context of “21st century literacies” but also within white supremacy, heteropatriarchy, settler colonialism, and interlocking oppressions?
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[This image shows a photo of Beth Godbee on the left and text on the right: “MNWECONFERENCE.COM – Keynotes and Plenaries – Breaking Civil Discourse: Cultivating Productive and Receptive Literacies for Responsible (Response-Able) Engagement.”] .
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#MnWE #Conference #Keynote #Presentation #CFP #Speaking #Facilitating #LiteracyEducation #SocialJusticeEducation #AntiOppression #Writing #English #WritingCenters #RhetComp @iwca_writingcenters @nctegram @uwmadisonwritingcenter @rhetcompdaily #writingcommunity #writingstudies #highered #highereducation #21stcenturyliteracies #committedtojustice #critique #action #teaching #pedagogy #writingteacher #wednesdaymotivation](http://scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com/v/t51.2885-15/e35/c81.0.176.176a/80791550_479728156064920_9207582473884025899_n.jpg?_nc_ht=scontent-lga3-1.cdninstagram.com&_nc_cat=104&_nc_ohc=7si-atJMBPIAX-XfCKB&oh=150ee3c0e514ddb241e0bf8f9269a2ff&oe=5ECFFA75 "Friends in the Midwest:
I’ll be keynoting the MnWE (Minnesota Writing and English) Conference in March, and I’d love to see you at the conference. Proposals are due January 26th, so there’s still time to submit.
.
Here’s information about my talk -- link in bio -- and I’ll be facilitating an interactive workshop with Jasmine Kar Tang, too!
.
About the keynote:
This interactive presentation engages the dialectic of critique against and critique for: both problematizing “civic engagement” and pointing toward literacy education aligned with justice (social, racial, and environmental justice).
.
Together, we’ll consider where investment in civic engagement comes from, particularly at a time when civic participation, civil discourse, and related constructs of citizenship and national borders provide justifications for excluding and dehumanizing people. Power functions in these discourses, people are marginalized and written off, and unintentional acts still do harm, as research on microaggressions show.
.
How, then, do we interrupt these injustices? What learning and unlearning is needed now—not only in the context of “21st century literacies” but also within white supremacy, heteropatriarchy, settler colonialism, and interlocking oppressions?
.
.
[This image shows a photo of Beth Godbee on the left and text on the right: “MNWECONFERENCE.COM – Keynotes and Plenaries – Breaking Civil Discourse: Cultivating Productive and Receptive Literacies for Responsible (Response-Able) Engagement.”] .
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#MnWE #Conference #Keynote #Presentation #CFP #Speaking #Facilitating #LiteracyEducation #SocialJusticeEducation #AntiOppression #Writing #English #WritingCenters #RhetComp @iwca_writingcenters @nctegram @uwmadisonwritingcenter @rhetcompdaily #writingcommunity #writingstudies #highered #highereducation #21stcenturyliteracies #committedtojustice #critique #action #teaching #pedagogy #writingteacher #wednesdaymotivation")
