It’s May which means the end of the semester and academic year, as well as the start of my summer break! And while this summer will not be absolutely free of work commitments, it is nothing in comparison to my workload during the school year. However, this month and for the duration of the summer, I am celebrating not only the end of another academic year but the completion of FIVE years in this city, as well as five years at my academic home – the longest I have ever been both in the same place and with the same employer.
As I’ve considered what it might mean to “renew” my commitment to these places for another three to five years, I celebrate the milestones along the way. In this post, I invite you to take a walk with me down memory lane.
In year one, I was not only getting settled in Wilmington but discovering new community partners and further developing my research agenda. I had the pleasure of working with LINC, trying boxing classes for the first time, purchasing my first bike (in adulthood) and giving being a dog mom a good-faith effort.
During year two, we were devastated by Hurricane Florence in ways I could never have imagined. This was also the year I dug deeper into fostering meaningful friendships and connections in my new home. And the ultimate highlight was spending six months in the United Kingdom as Resident Faculty Director.
In year three, I co-facilitated my first Alternative Spring Break trip, and focused on being more intentional in work, as well as service. But the academic year also ended with us being knee-deep in the COVID-19 pandemic along with wrestling with the persistent realities of racial injustice and inequity in our country.
By the middle of year four, I’d launched my business and brand, was heavily involved in my faith community leading small groups, focused on rebuilding my life in the midst of the pandemics, and engaged in an even deeper exploration of what it means to cultivate meaningful connections. By the end of the year, I was co-leading some amazing research initiatives, increasing visibility for my brand, co-hosting a podcast and serving as a Faculty Success Coach for the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity. I participated in even more freelance writing opportunities AND a PBS documentary.
Year five was my year of returning HOME to me. I kicked off the summer with a silent retreat, began a daily meditation practice, revisited listening to and reading spiritual leaders I’d followed many years prior, and began co-hosting a second podcast. I was invited to serve as our university’s convocation speaker, as well as the keynote speaker for one of our statewide leading public health organizations. I was hired by my first international client, facilitated a three-part series for a preaching conference and found ways to invite more intentional joy in my life. I began traveling again in the midst of lifted COVID restrictions. I cultivated *new* friendships and opened my heart to love again. I also celebrated earning promotion to Associate Professor with tenure!
These last five years in Wilmington have not been without challenges and moments of deep questioning, as well as longing. It truly has been one heck of a ride! I celebrate this milestone with an ever-present acknowledgment of how much community and deep connections mean to me. I am firmly planted in my commitment to live an intentional life in every way, while also fostering consistent moments of joy and pleasure. My heart is overwhelmed with gratitude as I think about the experiences I’ve had, the people I’ve met, the places I’ve visited, and the work I’ve been able to engage in. And I do all of this while knowing there is MORE! More to see. More work to be done. More joy to experience. More ways to give. I look forward to the journey ahead and do so from a place of FLOW: less force, more flow.
What milestones are you celebrating? In what ways can you reflect on your past experiences, while also inviting more in the days/weeks/months/years ahead? What joy do you embrace as you acknowledge your milestones?