Sisters

I haven't blogged about my job much for various reasons--mostly that I still feel like I am learning what my job is. But thinking about how my initial goal of this blog was to illuminate one woman's experience, I'd like to say something about my job through that lens.

I work at a small Catholic women's college sponsored by a community of religious women (and by that I mean nuns). Some faculty and administrators are men, as are a very few nursing and graduate students.

I love being with so many women every day, and mostly, I find that I love the nuns. They are earthy, loving, and passionate. They have given their whole adult lives to God and to the transformation and education of other women. They support each other.

I've seen a sister reach out to hold the hand of a frightened student, and I've heard stories of smashing mice with shovels in the convent basement. They are committed to social justice and are not afraid of change. They both impress me and crack me up every single day. They teach me much about what it means to nurture, support, and encourage as a woman.

I have been blessed every single day by the sisters' presence in my life. I love when I experience a gift that I never could've anticipated.

And So It Begins

Nine months ago today, I stood on the capitol lawn with colleagues for my first Wisconsin protest. It is when I first heard the chant "Recall Walker."

Today the recall began.

I have hopes for this time (besides the hope of recalling Walker, of course).

I hope that people focus on policy and process, not on personality. We need to disagree without being disagreeable. Referring to the governor as a weasel or calling him a douchebag says more about us than about him. Seriously. If you can't say something nicely, perhaps it doesn't need saying.

Second, I hope that people maintain their integrity. If we win the recall, it will matter that we have done so in a dignified, transparent, and honest manner that does not push our political opponents so far away that we can't move forward after the recall. And if we lose, do we really want the winners angry at us?

My third hope is the most important. I hope for kindness and respect. I saw an article that indicated that some Republicans and former Walker supporters now support a recall. Let's not make it harder for them, folks. It takes a lot of honesty and courage to change your mind and to bring yourself to sign your name to a paper intended to remove someone you voted for. We should show respect for these individuals. They are our best allies in building bridges toward our futures.

And so it begins...

Connectedness

When I began my job, I was asked to take the StrenghtsQuest assessment. Unlike typical personality and interest inventories that I've always felt were used to label me in some way, this assessments a positive way of indicating what my strengths are so I can build on them to achieve and grow. There are 34 strengths, and they include things like Command, Developer, and Achiever. It's been interesting to see how much insight my colleagues have gained about themselves.

My greatest strength is connectedness. I see everything and everyone in terms of how they relate to each other. My goal is always unity and understanding how we all fit together as part of a greater whole. I've always known this about myself, although I never considered it a strength. (Interestingly, several of the nuns have the same top strength.)

If I had a theme song, it would probably be "Blessed Be the Tie that Binds." It is a huge part of why I love Facebook, and it is related to why I always want to know everyone's business. I am a bridge builder.

Knowing this in terms of a strength has helped me understand why I was so caught up in "the Wisconsin troubles" this year. It wasn't just because of the things Walker and the Fitzgerald brothers tried to take away. My biggest issues were the divisive ways they went about doing things and the divisiveness and contention that has resulted.

(On a side note, this is also why I've  been so upset about a situation at my former workplace. My former co-workers are facing an extremely difficult situation with another co-worker with a serious mental illness. They are upset, and I am distressed to not be with these people I care about.)

Just as connectedness is my greatest strength, disconnectedness is what provokes the greatest agitation in me. My role cannot be to go out and confront. It puts me at a
disadvantage.

The coming months will again be very contentious. I need to think through how I can contribute--not just as another body in the struggle but as a person who uses what she does well naturally  to make a difference.

P.S. I wrote this whole blog entry on my phone.