Embracing Change, Spiderwebs and Socks
Embracing Change, Spiderwebs and Socks
Navigating change, one bug bite and fist-shake at a time.
I couldn’t resist.
It might have been a mistake to keep my socks off. I’ve been sitting outside to read, and it turns out this fall is proving to be a banner year for no-see-ums. The plan was to enjoy the beautiful mild weather, the gently falling leaves, and put a wall between myself and distractions. Now I’m squirming around trying not to scratch in every seat in the house. This is what I classify as not ideal.
But it does coincide with finding a new park to walk my dog Poppet. There is construction going on in our area which has blocked the spots we usually go to, so I’ve had to find an alternative so she and I can get the exercise we need. Or else.
At first, I was put out that we couldn’t just keep doing our thing. I did the obligatory fist-shaking. It’s the sensible response to powerlessness, and it does get the blood pumping– which counts as cardio.
In our old area, we had the timing down. There were several good routes to choose from, and we’d get back to work. Snap snap, done and dusted. I also knew general traffic patterns so Poppet’s herding instincts were mostly limited to squirrels and the rare box turtle.
This was an annoyance I did not want.
But what are you going to do?
In comparison to leaving grad school or getting divorced this is trivial, yet it is also a reminder, like the leaves turning color, that change is always with us even when we don’t notice it. That’s what a good Buddhist would say.
After having a little think, and a complaining session with the other folks who regularly walk in the same area, I remembered a place I had driven by several times that I had been curious to explore. We drove over to see what we could find, and it has been a delight.
There is a large open area where Poppet can run, lots of native plants currently in bloom, and I had my choice of directions to walk in as though I was the lady of the manor, but without the responsibility of having to pay for the gardeners. I’ll take it.
It did take a little longer to get to, and we’ve had to change our timing a bit to avoid the crowds. There is also a surprising number of spiderwebs. It is a lot more than a few, and they are not fun to walk into. They make your eyelashes feel sticky and your dog looks at you with judgment as you’re waving your arms like a windmill in a hurricane. My own darn dog. The betrayal is the worst.
I’ve also learned that carrying a stick in front of my face is a great idea, and you can live out your dreams of being Shrek for a day.
A good Buddhist would say something like as we reframe this unexpected change into an opportunity we resist attachment to blah blah blah. Some days are just too itchy for that. Goddamnit. Sorry for swearing, but only a little.
I’m grateful for the new park and I really should pick up some calamine lotion. And socks. Definitely need to get my socks.
On The Book Shelf
In addition to slowly getting my way through various textbooks about culturally sensitive math and other absurd concepts, I’ve finally started reading The New Know-Nothings by Morton Hunt. This book came out the same year my oldest daughter was born and I swear it could have been written yesterday.
In it, he details an earlier version of cancel culture that was already going on at universities across the country, the shutting down of certain lines of research because the topics were seen as too sensitive and other travesties. When I’m done I’ll post a more thorough review, but for those of you looking to dig into the history a little more, this is shaping up to be a good read.
I’m also taking another crack at reading “Surely You’re Joking Mr. Feynman!”: Adventures of a Curious Character by Richard Feynman. I’ve tried to read it three other times in the past, and through no fault of the book, I haven’t been able to get started. This time it’s going to be different because I’m not going to put other books on top of it, I’m not going to put it in my book tub to make sure it doesn’t get spilled on, and I’m not going to put it in my bag and then put my bag away. I swear.
About
Diogenes in Exile began after I returned to grad school to pursue a degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at the University of Tennessee. What I encountered, however, was a program deeply entrenched in Critical Theories ideology. During my time there, I experienced significant resistance, particularly for my Buddhist practice, which was labeled as invalidating to other identities. After careful reflection, I chose to leave the program, believing the curriculum being taught would ultimately harm clients and lead to unethical practices in the field.
Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to investigating, writing, and speaking out about the troubling direction of psychology, higher education, and other institutions that seem to have lost their way. When I’m not working on these issues, you’ll find me in the garden, creating art, walking my dog, or guiding my kids toward adulthood.
You can also find my work at Minding the Campus
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