It took me a while but I feel like over the weekend I came around to Acceptance.
(First was shock, then was wallowing, then came a sort of abbreviated bargaining, and now . . . )
WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE
- Focusing on the present again (vs fixating on the past, or frantically trying to remake the future)
- Not self-soothing with escapist tactics (you all know what mine are, so I won’t belabor that!)
- Noticing little positives, like — as some of you pointed out in the early phases — since he’s neither working nor running/working out, Josh is HOME WAY MORE than he ever has been before. (Literally, ever.) And while it obviously isn’t the sabbatical he would have planned, there are some really nice things about it. It’s obviously not our long term reality, but there really are tiny silver linings here.
- GENTLY thinking about ways we might alter future plans (vs trying to slap together larger scale “makeup” experiences). I’m starting to look at dates to return to PHL (it won’t be super-soon, but on the plus side — maybe my dad will be weight-bearing by the time I get there!). We are thinking about how our ski trip might look different but still be cozy and fun (hoping skiing will be in the cards for Josh by then, but we don’t know).
READING NOTES
I ditched Dream State like 120 pages in. And what did I pick up, you might ask?
A juicy page-turner?
A hot summer hit?
Well . . .
I’m going to be honest: I don’t remember who gave me this recommendation. But somehow it ended up on my library holds list, and then it ended up next to my desk and I decided to pick it up.
It was written in 1952 and it is about a world where MACHINES TAKE OVER, you guys. Machines are controlling the machines. AND computers are controlling the machines controlling the machines. I knew it wasn’t recent (Kurt Vonnegut died in 2007) but when I saw the 1952 publication date I was seriously floored.
Anyway, it’s fascinating so far.
Working Towards CME: Feedback requested!
I’m working towards being able to offer CME (and equivalent credit for nurses / pharmacists / PAs / dental / more) for BLP: Planning 2027 this year (!). I’m also curious as to whether there is interest in a future LIVE in the style of BLP Live but with some more targeted content, with CME available.
- If you get a budget for continuing education, do you think this is something your institution would allow you to use it for?
- Would you be more interested in an online course or a live experience?
- Would you want a healthcare-specific event or more general?
I will be interested in the feedback!
16 Comments
LOVE KURT VONNEGUT and have been meaning to reread so much of his stuff. So glad this wound up on your list!
Glad you’re finding acceptance and again so sorry this happened.
As a pharmacist, I would love this! And I think a more general life/work balance approach (selfishly for parents of busy kids) would be so helpful! I would love to say in person, but online more realistically and if ACPE approved, my institution would cover!
Phil loves Kurt Vonnegut. We have a Kurt Vonnegut stuffie on our window seat shelves and we have a print made by Vonnegut in our bathroom. I think he’s written every book by Vonnegut. I, on the other hand, am not a fan. I tried and he just doesn’t work for me. That book sounds scarily prescient…
I’m glad you’ve moved onto the acceptance phase and are finding some silver linings!
My thoughts on CME: my institution offers tuition remission for CME (CEUs in my allied health field) and so the registration for online course would be fully reimbursed.
Realistically, I think a live event would be fun (and preferred for me!) but there is no way the travel would be funded – the limited funding I have goes toward my field-specific meetings every year and I wouldn’t sacrifice those, plus many at our institution are only funded for travel if they are invited speakers. Just given all the federal funding cuts, I would guess that this is not unique to my institution.
Personally, I’d rather the course be geared toward healthcare – but would that still give you a big enough audience?
My husband LOVES Kurt Vonnegut and even went to visit his house in Indianapolis when he was there for Master’s Swimming Nationals two(?) years ago.
I am currently reading (among other things) My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout. It is so good! I needed a break from the tree activism in The Overstory.
One observation — You may well get to experience this kind of time with your husband — at least in small to medium sized doses — again WHEN YOU RETIRE (provided you both live long enough in good health). That time is potentially not that far away. My husband is 52 now and I suspect he will be forced into early retirement in the next 5-7 years. And if not? 62, 63 is a *perfectly normal* age to retire. I am not that far behind him. Did you know that you can withdraw on some IRAs without penalty starting at age 59? Josh is around that age, no?
Anyway, be happy. Some people spend more time with their partners and realize that they actually cannot stand one another. 😉
As far as CME is concerned, I think yes, my department would pay for it. They would probably pay for in-person as well… but we have experienced massive cutting of our CME funds in the past year so I probably would save my money for a research conference since travel is $$$. Also, our conference time is lumped with our vacation time, so virtual would probably work best for me, and only if I was off that day anyway. However, plenty of other people would probably go in-person, and other organizations do CME time differently than my organization. You could also record sessions or offer individualized coaching (which my dept pays for also).
Josh is 51! I think his retirement or at least semi retirement would be around 60 (though several factors might play into that including how the market goes!). But you’re right – it isn’t never!!
I wanted to clarify that I did not think Josh was 59 haha. I can see how my comment read that way though. Funny how 50 doesn’t seem that old to me, but 60, whoa… that’s ancient!
ha! Yes, it’s all relative right? I feel like 10 yrs ago I would have felt like 50 was ancient but now (for obvious reasons) it doesn’t seem that way.
I would love to get CEUs for BLP: Planning 2027. My institution would likely cover the cost if it qualified for category 1 or category 2 CEUs through the National Society of Genetic Counselors. But I would pay out of pocket if CEUs were available.
I am a registered dietitian by trade and need CEUs. I still work in healthcare, but in leadership of a company that does healthcare food service, so I think the topic would be a good fit an I am able to have my company pay for CEUs in general.
I really love to hear that you’re able to accept the circumstances and look for the silver-lining. Sometimes it’s hard to get to this point, but it feels so much better once you finally arrive there.
You might be able to get this approved for continuing legal education in some states. I just attended a wellness / time management program for which I received credit.
I would love to take your course for CME! I think the virtual option would ideal for me, as much as I would enjoy the in person option.
Echoing Kersti’s comment – I am a CPA and am required to get 40 hours of CPE a year, which can include time management and other ‘soft skill’ type stuff. I would love to take one of your courses for CPE credit if possible. The accrediting agency is called NASBA (National Assn of State Boards of Accountancy).
I already expense BLP Live, but it is kinda stretching the rules, so for it to offer official CME would be amazing! Going forward, if Planning by Season could also offer CME, I’d be able to expense that one too! I think virtual is much more likely to be covered for CME as travel is getting so expensive. And finally – would love just a few pearls of time management and planning that are specific to medical fields: planning around schedules that may not always be M-F 9-5; submitting time out requests up to 1 yr in advance; incorporating really busy, call-heavy weeks into monthly planning, etc
thank you Laura!!! Planning By Season is a little trickier (it’s complicated!)!!! But would never say never. I love all of those other ideas – all things I LOOOOOVE to talk about anyway 🙂 🙂