Thanksgiving reflection time! I’ll be brief*, and use pictures, because let’s face it — sometimes the children's section is more fun than the adult shelves.
But first, a quick statement of gratitude: Literally days before the pandemic forced most of us into a national lockdown, Poynter’s leadership agreed to let me attempt something new for the institute, which was a person dedicated to collegiate journalism. I am grateful to them for trusting and believing in me, and I feel truly privileged each and every day to say I get to work for Poynter. Here’s why I bring all that up.
Like most humans, “Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark” is one of my favorite movies. In one scene, right after he escapes Nazis and shortly before he gallops away on a white horse, Indy is asked what his plan is, and he states, “I don’t know. I’m making this up as I go.”
This is essentially my life’s motto.
In many ways, I have felt like that in my “new” role (third season coming soon!) I've been making it up as I go. And in this season of gracefulness, I am reminded to be OK with that when possible. As should you.
When we attempt innovation, we usually don’t have a road map. It can be easy to get lost, or worry that we’re not enough, or feel isolated. Like most professionals in all walks of life I’ve ever met, I regret things. I wish I’d done things differently, or faster, or more strategically. Everyone I know wishes they’d worked smarter and faster, while failing (in most cases) to celebrate what they actually did well.
Like many of you, I’m not one to dwell on successes. But I can’t help but think that we’d all be wise this week to remember not just what we’re grateful for, but what we’ve done well in our personal and professional lives.
That kind of inventory helps us build strength into our future plans and relationships, even if humility is one of your core values.
In thinking through what I wanted to say to you all in this week of thankfulness, I knew I wanted first and foremost to tell you that I’m grateful to you — yes, you personally — for the work you do advancing the education of young journalists. It can be thankless but also rewarding. I hope that just when the administration has you drowning in whatever red tape it rolled out this semester, and campus construction seems absolutely bonkers, you find a student ray of light. Maybe it’s a line of sparkling prose, or a brave standup, or even just a deadline that your whole class hits. Whatever it is, I hope it really makes your week.
I looked back over my camera roll and found a lot to be grateful for professionally in the last year, so here’s a sampling.
