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 ...
love
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 ...
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 ...
Parenting Myself 101
Over the past few months, I’ve been learning more about how to care for myself—a sort of self-care that I’m calling “parenting myself 101.” After a career change, cross-county move, and intense internal work “inside the chrysalis,” I’ve recognized the need to put good self-parenting into place. The language of “parenting” has been helpful for me to break from “self-care” focused on relaxation as an escape from everyday life. Rather than experiencing self-care as ... Read more ...
Inside the Chrysalis, or Experiencing Mess, Mess, and More Mess
It’s not uncommon for me to ride emotional roller-coasters with swings from sweet to sour as I go about my days. More and more, I’ve noticed these swings as I’ve tuned in with my emotions and embodied self through Reiki, yoga, and other contemplative practices. The more I do inner work and the more I embrace mess, the more the messiness of being an always-incomplete, imperfect human inevitability shows up. Still, if I’m being honest with myself, the past few weeks have ... Read more ...
A Love Letter to Students Surviving Sexual Violence
As we near the end of spring semester, students in both my “Contemplative Writing” and “Writing for Social Justice” courses are pulling together projects to make interventions in some way. Several students are addressing rape culture, and one student is compiling a book of letters by and for survivors of sexual violence. She hopes that others at our university will read the letters, write additional ones, and add threaded response—facilitating healing through ... Read more ...
Snapshots of Support
This week I’ve felt stretched thin—waking up earlier and heading to bed later than I’d like. One moment, I’m reviewing students’ midterm portfolios. The next, I’m scripting a hard conversation. While attending to microaggressions and facilitating tricky online and in-person conversations, I’m also sharing hopeful-yet-emotional announcements with family, friends, colleagues, and students. In the midst of such frenzied and frenetic activity, I’ve been finding support ... Read more ...
Writing with Heartache
In this week of Valentine’s Day—a week when I’ve been teaching bell hooks’s Feminism Is for Everybody; sharing love notes that amplify hooks's words; and meditating with students about love as action, commitment, and a call to authenticity—I’m sitting with heartache. Heartache that gun violence continues unchecked and that proclamations of love are flooded by the pain and fear of regular, normalized, and numbing violence. Heartache that a series of online and phone ... Read more ...
Spell-Casting and Other Contemplative Practices for Reflection and Recovery
In the past two weeks, I’ve been listening to a LOT of guided meditations, as a concussion has me grounded. I’m grounded in the sense of a child who’s misbehaved: sent to my room, with limited activities, and in reflection on what’s gotten me here. And I’m grounded in the sense of rooting down and deep, strengthening the base/foundation from which I can grow. Truly, I’m grateful for “the grounding,” and I’m grateful for the contemplative practices that are helping me ... Read more ...
Holding Space and Being Present: Two Resolutions Following the Las Vegas Shooting
I woke yesterday morning to news of the Las Vegas shooting, continued calls for aid needed in Puerto Rico, and boos for kneeling NFL players at Sunday’s games. Though seemingly unrelated, these news stories relayed a larger message about the presence of everyday violence in our lives. My social media feeds were naming and critiquing this violence. People were already calling for action, for donations, and for prayers—for linking individual narratives with larger social ... Read more ...
![The online writing group starts this Friday, and there are still a few spots open.
.
See link in bio to learn more and register.
.
.
[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.”]
.
.
#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.
.
See link in bio to learn more and register.
.
.
[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.”]
.
.
#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.
.
These are my themes for January with the new webinar (on relationships with food) and writing group (Friday mornings) both happening this week.
.
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.]
.
.
#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.
.
These are my themes for January with the new webinar (on relationships with food) and writing group (Friday mornings) both happening this week.
.
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.]
.
.
#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.
.
[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.”]
.
Learn more about my work on aligning career with commitments via link in bio. <3
.
.
#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.
.
[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.”]
.
Learn more about my work on aligning career with commitments via link in bio. <3
.
.
#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.
.
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.”]
.
.
#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.”]
.
.
#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.
.
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.”] .
.
#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.”] .
.
#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")
