Every time I turn on the television, or read a newspaper, I find myself getting depressed. Obviously, with our global economic woes, it's hard to find much to be happy about. Closer to home, departmental budget cuts and salary freezes aren't fun either.
I know I get 'down in the dumps' very quickly; that's always been a part of my nature. And I hate being helpless. There's nothing I can do about the stock market or the stimulus plan, the best I can do is manage my own pocketbook wisely.
But I have been telling myself that there are ways to beat this recession depression before it gets any worse. Being grateful for what I do have helps. Every day I try to remind myself that even if things get tough at Wofford, it's still better to be here than anywhere else I can think of. I've heard far too many horror stories from friends at other colleges and universities. I have faith that we will come out of this OK, and that when good economic years return we will be compensated for the lean ones. Maybe that's optimistic---maybe that's even Pollyanna-ish---but I know there have been times when Wofford has shown faith in me (via research grants and Community of Scholars) and so I'm going to choose to have faith in Wofford as a living institution.
I also remind myself that I've got great students. Not every one of them is Phi Beta Kappa material, but there's a curiosity and a spark and a joy of life that I see in Wofford students that I didn't see, to the same degree, in students at Georgia Southern or FSU. I don't know how many times I've heard colleagues say that the students are what make this job worth doing, and I think that's true. In the summer, as much as I might enjoy research and writing, I find that before a month is out I miss the routine and I miss the kids. Im pretty sure that the majority of academics in the world wouldn't say that.
I'm also very thankful for the people at Wofford who make our lives easier and our days more pleasant. I'd have to be a hard-hearted person if I couldn't return the many smiles and waves that I receive every morning from our custodians and groundskeepers. It goes without saying that our support staff is excellent and will help out the absent-minded professor when she gets in a jam with photocopying. Our public safety officers and our maintenance people help us feel secure here, inside our little bubble. Our faculty dining room is marvelous; the food is great and the desserts are downright sinful! And the people who feed us aren't just putting down pans of rice and chicken, they're always talking to us, teasing us, making sure that we feel like we're eating at home.
I'm grateful that my grandmother is finally at peace, and after so many long years of caring for her my mother can make some time for herself. Of course, I might like it better if my mom came up to see me more, but I kinda understand what it's like to be a workaholic.
I'm happy that I have good departmental colleagues---including a new colleague who'll be here in the Fall---and so many friends in the faculty at Wofford. I'm thrilled for the people who have had new additions to their lives, who've had babies and romances and marriages and major career advances. And how cool is it that at Wofford I can sit down and talk to a professor of religion or math or finance or government or even (gasp!) biology? That doesn't happen everywhere, especially not in big universities where everyone divides up by disciplines into hostile, we-need-more-money-than-you-do tribes.
Don't misunderstand me, not everything here is perfect. There's plenty to be worried about. But thinking about what IS good here, trying (no matter how old fashioned it sounds) to count blessing and be grateful, and smile a bit more often...that's worked for me in the past, and I hope it will continue to work in the future.
I really enjoyed this post, Dr. Revels. I admire your positive outlook on life, especially when so many people want to be grumpy all the time!
Posted by: emily phillips | March 16, 2009 at 08:57 AM