I started blogging in 2009 when I was about to go on my first trip to Japan. At the time, my goal was to record my journey, and I am so glad I did. My post about JICA International Center in Kitakyushu is visited by many visitors from all over the world.
I deliberately blog in English as I want to keep my non-work English writing skills. I do not have any particular topic to write about. I wrote everything but the kitchen sink 🙂 From travel, badminton, baking, parenting, gardening, and random thoughts.
There are ups and downs in my blogging habit. I sometimes do not write for quite some time 🤭
I blogged more when after I traveled. I love posting pictures I took from different places that I visited. But posting a lot of pictures took up my free storage. So, in 2020 during the pandemic, I decided to create another blog to post about my travel experience Footprints of ME. It does not have the same traction as this blog, though, and it soon runs out of space too.
I have used 95% of my free space quota under the free plan. So now I am facing the ultimate question. Should I upgrade my plan? I do not intend to monetize this site, so I will have to put aside some budget to keep the upgraded plan. Is it worth it, though?
I guess I need to rethink what I want to do with this blog. Any thoughts?
Suddenly this week, my calendar got so full. A lot of things need to be done this week.
I am not prepared to leave all the habits I have worked on in the last couple of months. I need to be consistent. My workout regime has changed totally. But, still managed to get the 30-day goal getter as I hit my daily steps goal 30 days in a row.
My next goal is to get 60-day streaks! It’s very ambitious, I know, but I want to try!
Wanna fly and shine brightly like this little creature
As for my daily reading habit, well, I am ashamed to admit that I have been unable to keep it. So, I try to at least keep on journaling before calling it a night. I am currently on a 5-day streak on this blog 🙂
No, don’t worry, I wont start bursting out the iconic number from Disney’s Aladdin 🙂 Though on a side note, a few weeks a go when we had a blackout in our house, we tried out a karaoke app and had fun singing the song as a duet with a total stranger!
Okay, lets focus on the real message behind the title. This past week I literally found myself in a whole new world. OR, perhaps more aptly, seeing my old world in a new light. Just a little reminder that I would talk about work. Its been a while since I did so I guess it’s okay.
Since I am free from my administrative work, I have more time to actually think about my own career. Sounds so selfish, right? But ever since I started my job, I always went along with so many external drivers rather than my own inner call. Now that I finally have some of those time, I found myself still hesitating. Since the transition process was not really that smooth, it really threw me off rails a little bit.
I always thought that I was not as productive as a lecturer/researcher because my time has been taken away by the administrative jobs. So, when I stopped doing it and I did not become happier with my job, I started seeing the issues much clearer. All, this time, I am using the external factors as an excuse to my own weaknesses.
It got me thinking really hard. Do I really want this career? Am I doing this because my parents are both lecturer? Will I be better off doing something else? I really had an honest conversation with myself. (Well, actually not totally with myself. I happened to have a one-sided appointed mentor who carefully pointed out some key hints.)
I actually love my job. Always enjoyed teaching and pester some students (only the lazy ones :D). I love research, reading, and writing. So, that settles the career choice questions.
Now, I thought more about what makes me unhappy in my job. The contemplation brought me to two things: imposter syndrome (or I should really say low confidence) and overthinking. Not a really good combination. I always felt that what I am doing is not good, that there are more people out there doing better work than I did. While this may be true, that does not mean that my work is worthless. My mentor said “you did not go this far out of pure luck”. I must agree with that. I worked hard to get to where I am today. Not just me but my family too. Then, why am I so afraid? Even if my work is flawed, I should be so lucky to learn about it and then improve!
So, slowly I am beginning to pick up the pieces. In the past couple of months, I got two papers accepted in an international journal (not the highest ranked journals, but it is a start). At the same time I have two rejections. But, when I read again the two rejected papers, I agree with the reviewers. I made very weak research and the papers were not good enough.
I made it sound so easy, but its not!!! It took me at least two days to complete the Kübler-Rossfive stages of grief from denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance!
Once I finally came to term with the grief of rejections (I know, I am exaggerating here), I had a moment of epiphany 🙂
Next, I formed a plan. Again, here, my mentor really helped by saying “You should talk about your work more, so that the world know what you are doing”.
So, I took the biggest step that I have ever done until today: talking and promoting myself and my work. I have never done that, because I thought that when you are doing something good, people will come to you. Quite idealistic, I know. I realized, unless you are a Nobel or Pullitzer prize winner, nobody will know you. And if no one knows what you are doing, the downside is that I also loose the chance of being of value to more people. Something that I think motivate me most.
So, I started writing simple posts on LinkedIn (the most professional social media for me). Then I saw two big boxes of my book just sitting there in my living room. My husband has been pestering me about those books. So, I decided to give it away to those that are interested. The response was pretty amazing. More than I expected.
(I actually have several tips for it, but I will save it for another post.) The immediate result is I came to know many new people that are doing something in line with my research interests. And all this time, I thought I was a minority! I get connected with them and even get invited to create an association. Secondly, I managed to sent out one full box of my author’s copy books.
Once they received the book, they sent me pictures (or post it on their social media) and also well wishes – its a really nice encouragement.
Some of the posts
But, one that particularly made me happy is when my senior, who has lent me his books during my bachelor degree, asked me for a copy of the book!
Glad to have finally returned the favor somehow
So, I hope to keep this positive attitude toward my work!
Special thanks to my mentor, you can rightly use this post the next time I am down, complaining too much or being pure lazy.
This time, I am aiming to write 30 days in a row in this blog.
I started this blog in 2009 as I about to travel to Kumamoto, Japan as part of my job. I noticed that many people came by this blog because they searched for information about Kyushu International Center. Since then there has been a lot of ups and downs. I mourned the loss of my dad here. I wrote mostly mundane stuff. But there were also occasional gems. One of my blog posts about Badminton was quoted in a travel book by a famous author. But, many times I left it dusty…untouched. Still, I came back again.
So, this blog has become my companion…and I intend to keep it that way.
Nowadays, I am transitioning through a difficult period of stress from work. I was hoping that the transition will be very swift. But, unfortunately, it takes longer than I hoped. I felt less healthy. I found myself totally addicted to coffee, been eating too many sweets and calories, missing the usual vegetables and fruits.
So, I decided today would be my first to getting away from Coffee. Already feeling lost 😀
But, my mood is much better than yesterday. Perhaps because its Monday, so I am looking forward to the next Homeland episode tonite. *and you thought that I would be the odd one that actually loves Monday*
Most likely also due to a certain moral boost that I received from a very wise and kind Professor. In general, in any industry or even in life, it’s nice to have mentors. In a world of academics, where you are expected to perform various tasks with very little and most of the time vague guidelines, it’s nice to get some encouragement from someone that you looked up to.
People say small things can mean the world to the person who receives it.
As I pressed publish in my last post, I immediately received this message from wordpress.
Yes, apparently I have posted constantly three days in a row! It either cemented my consistency or also shows my current state of having less administrative work? Or because there have not been any badminton tournaments during this period.
Either way, I am happy. In fact, I am motivated to make it 5-days streak just to see what WordPress will send me then 😀
One of my initial motivations to start this blog is to keep my English writing skills. Recently, I installed Grammarly. They send me updates on my writing and it really helps me recognize my capability.
Well, my line of work requires me to write a lot, starting from email, report, course materials 😀Yeah, I and my laptop are best buddiesGood in vocabulary but my grammar is not as good?Ahh, miss the comma, and singular noun, how can I improve this? I tend to type without thinking much 😦
I have always enjoyed writing. Telling a story. Through blogging, I hope to nurture my skills. I am not sure if I am getting any better, yet. Sometimes when another blogger like my page, I will go visit their blog. I am amazed by how good their writing are or how unique their blog is. Check this blog from Little Miss Traveller, Louis, Srijan and Alex Markovich. Great blogs!
I hope someday I will be able to find my own style of writing. Until then, I am content to write whatever comes to my mind. Be it about work, music, movie, travel, food or random stuffs 😀 because, sometimes, I checked back again on my previous posts, and I quite enjoyed reading it again.
The M Ways 