Stop the Shaming, People

Opening disclaimer:  Some will call this whole post out as "shaming."  If I were calling out a particular person - or even a particular group - I'd probably agree.  But, I'm talking to all of us - even me.  So, if you want to consider it "shaming," please consider it "equal opportunity shaming," and read on.

I'm really not sure why this has become such a thing.  I imagine that, part of it, has to do with social media and the ability to say whatever comes to mind with very little concern for the person on the other side of the screen.  There's no doubt that the amount of meanness in contemporary culture is due to the interwebs and its veneer of anonymity.

But, the shaming.  What the hell is up with the constant public shaming of other people?

Vegans shaming omnivores for consuming flesh like monstrous creatures without a conscious.  Omnivores shaming vegans for eating cheese that isn't cheese.

Political opponents shaming one another for breathing.

Hell, I was even shamed this morning for swimming too well and "embarrassing" a woman who couldn't swim as well as me.  I seriously shit you not.

She actually used that phrase... she was embarrassed to be in the pool with me because I'm a good swimmer.

What the hell?

We need to reset ourselves here, people.  We need to stop thinking that our actions are the only ones that are acceptable.  Look, you wanna shame Nazis... GO FOR IT.  They're the slimiest monsters to have crawled out into our society since... well... the Nazis.  But, shaming someone because they use a plastic bag at the grocery store, or because they want to go work out?  Poor, Rock.  The guy just wanted to keep his abs from atrophying.  And, I'm sure that he spends plenty of time with his daughter.  But, one post about wanting to go work out and the world jumps on the poor guy's back.

Leave my Rock alone, people.  Srsly.

So... here's the thing...

I love meat.  So, if you're a person who thinks I'm evil because I like to eat chicken, and fish, and very rare beef, maybe you need to consider whether you treat other humans as well as you treat chickens, and fish, and beefs... I mean, cows.

Either way, until you've been religiously - or secularly - canonized and find yourself judged among the best of us on this planet, keep your shaming to yourself.

Closing Disclaimer: I will allow for one sort of shaming to continue until the end of days: dog shaming.  Because it's just adorably cute and hilariously funny.

Kthnxbai!

My Office

Every once in a while I stop and look around my office.  I'm surrounded by things that speak to my heart and my soul in various ways.  Things that would, if someone were so inclined, tell others a lot about who I am and who I want to be.  And, of course... it offers a lot about who has helped me move through this crazy life.

Just above my computer screen is this collection of items...

And the corner of my desk...

And sitting on my computer...

And hanging on my walls...

Take from these photos what you will... but, I'm surrounded by things that make me happy and proud.  Whether it's a photo of my students from the Study Abroad in London last summer, my protective Ganesha, posters made by students in my 205 class past, notes of thanks, or silly Funko Pop figures, each item in my office is a little piece of me.  And, I'm so grateful for each item around me.

If you want to know more about something in the photos - let me know and I'll give you the scoop! 

A Scottish Summer

Over the fall and winter, I worked on writing a proposal for an award from Phi Theta Kappa.  The Mosal Award - designed to support personal and professional development for an advisor to pursue some study - is something that I've applied for a few times.  But, this time, I felt much more confident.  I felt as though my proposal was strong, my rational was reasonable, and my project was intriguing. 

Luckily for me, the selection committee thought so, too!

At the International Convention in April, I was announced as the winner of the 2019 Mosal Award.  Holy moly!!!

What does this mean, you ask?

It means that in just a few short weeks, I will hop a plane across the pond to Scotland.  For a three week study of the people, history, culture, and geography of that amazing part of the UK. 

Even better - I'm taking my Mom with me!!  I can't wait (or, to practice my Scots - I canna wae) to share this with her and to explore this amazingly beautiful country.  

So, since April, I've been spending my time reading up on my Scottish history.  Which, by the way, is absolutely intriguing and enchanting.  And sad and tragic.  And glorious.  All at once.

I've booked all of our stays - Glasgow, Stirling, Oban, Carbost on Skye, Inverness, Gauldry, Edinburgh, and Renfrewshire - started to plan some of our outings - the Highland games in Luss, climbing Ben Lomond, drinking whiskey at the Macallan Distillery - and just generally loved staring at maps and pictures and such.

To have this opportunity is absolutely stellar.  The next step - about which I should hear news this week - would be to be approved to do a student Study Abroad in Scotland in 2020. 

In the meantime, I'll keep watching videos in the hopes of acclimatizing my ears to the Scottish brogue, and will get my camera cleaned up and read to take photos for three weeks straight.  In my dreams, I'll get at least a handful of photos as beautiful as this one....