Comments on: A New Way of Life

By: Mary

Mary — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 05:25:46 +0000

Oh how TRUE. It’s comforting to know someone else is struggling with the same anxieties as I sit in front of my computer, willing myself to be productive and to suddenly manifest the ideal vision that annoyingly plays in my mind as I, in real time, burrow down in fear and procrastination. Of what? Yeah… what you said.

Thank you for reminding me of that book. I will move it up to the “must-read” category. After your book, of course.

By: Adam B.

Adam B. — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 05:14:05 +0000

One of the chapters in the book suggest finding someone who is like-minded or at least sympathetic to your mission to be with you while you work. He couldn’t be more right!
Yes, you will borrow this book when you return.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 05:04:23 +0000

Were you talking about me?

You left out one thing that seems to be powerful enough to push us over the edge to productivity – a fellow adventurer.

It is a book I will have to borrow or pick up.

By: Adam B.

Adam B. — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:37:30 +0000

Jenny,
So wonderful of you to grace my blog! Send me an email sometime, I would love to hear all about life since Science-O. Just a few days ago I was reminiscing about our former glory in Picture This!

By: Jenny "Z"

Jenny "Z" — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:07:05 +0000

I have really enjoyed stumbling upon your site (admit to recently “Googling” old friends). Heard about a class reunion coming up next month, but probably cannot attend b/c we are traveling to my sister-in-law’s home for Thanksgiving. Anyway, I am very happy you and your family are well. Same personality as Lewis, eh? I can imagine that, but wouldn’t have guessed you were a food snob:) Still embrace nerdiness, and jello still makes me smile. I’ll continue browsing your site and keep my eyes open for your book. Warm regards, -J

By: Steven K

Steven K — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 15:16:37 +0000

Yeah, what she said, there’s always someone asking you if you want to go to old McD’s.

By: MOM

MOM — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 02:09:43 +0000

Adam,
I think that you have been doing plenty of things right. Your book is wonderful. Every chapter gives much meat for thought. I love it. It is very stimulating and answers questions I forgot I had. You have done a great job. I will start chapter 4 tomorrow. I can’t wait!!! Keep up the good work!!! I’m very proud of you.
I ofter have to schedule myself in order to get things done. It works out fine for a while until Dad says, “Wanna go to McDonalds?”. Then the rest of the day is shot. Oh well.
Love ya,
Mom:)

By: Adam B.

Adam B. — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 21:09:43 +0000

Eh, full time and school. I have never attempted it, nor do I want to. I have seen these madmen that can handle all that and more. The guys here are often in full time ministry (which, as we all know, is a lot more than 40 hours a week) and they are taking more courses than I am. Not sure how that works. Right now I am devoting 10 hours as a TA for a teacher, and that is maxing my schedule out (at 5 hours a day mind you). The book I mentioned has shown me that I need not apologize for working less and having a smaller course load than my colleagues as long as I am devoting my free time to thinking and writing and do my work with humility and integrity.
I know that I am not cut out for school and work, but little by little I learn to be more disciplined and can handle more than before. Even still, to do what I need to do the best I can, I don’t think I could ever work full time and go to school.

By: Steven K

Steven K — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 20:45:59 +0000

This sounds great, and I hope the formula you’ve worked out really works for you. I find myself in the same dilemmas, but I really cannot apply what you’ve come up with (or read about) to my life directly at this time. I am in school as well now and am remembering the irritations and stresses I always carried while in school. As you said, procrastination, working below what I know I’m capable of, half-hearted work and study.

I have had some ideas for scheduling myself, but they have all proven to be too fragile and come crumbling down in the event of any change in life or schedule from without.

It’s a whole new game when you’re trying to work full-time and go to school. Work takes more out of me than I realize and it shows in my work habits. On top of that, going to school and working full time ultimately causes me to hate my friends because they become these needy, time stealing imps that I’m, constantly battling and trying to get rid of.

School also seems to have the same pattern it always did, that being slow in the beginning, then mid terms (so I disappear) and from there I roll into project time (where I disappear again).

I’m not sure what the answer is and I keep seeing people load their schedules far more than I have and they still find time for social events, or at least go out, which is when I see them and at which point it may slip out just how much they’re doing. Of course, a common theme among these people is a lack of full-time job, but some of them work full-time as I do.

Sometimes I think I am not cut out for school, other times I think I’m just not cut out for school and work at the same time. Little by little I guess.