Following Aimée’s lead, I’m giving thanks today.
I am thankful for my incredible partner who gave up a flourishing freelance career to move across the country with me when I took what was at the time only a 10-month LTA. We could have tried long-distance, but he chose to support me. He is a truly wonderful person. I’m so grateful to share a home with him.
I am thankful for my family, far-flung as we all are.
I am thankful for my friends, here and there, without whom I would be a lesser person.
I am thankful for my mentors. Almost speechless with thanks. I will work to pay it forward in the way you have for me.
I am thankful for articulate reminders that holidays aren’t neutral, and that we must continue to work for equitable futures in the academy and outside it.
I am thankful to have the privilege of working in a department that is supportive and engaged (I had the opportunity to give a draft of an article to my colleagues and students on Friday: the discussion was thoughtful and the audience worked to help me address some parts of the paper I didn’t feel were yet finished. When I walked out of the room an hour and a half later I had solid essentially workshopped suggestions for how to finish the piece. One colleague even wrote a follow up email with her thoughts!)
I’m thankful for my colleague and friend with whom I’m researching a new project.
I’m thankful for my colleague(s) who offer to take time out of their busy lives to offer commentary on my work. I’m thankful our department has such strong, forward-thinking, humane leadership.
I am thankful that I have–and have had–the opportunity to teach such incredible students. In addition to working with students from first to fourth year, I am grateful for the opportunity to work with graduate students and aspiring graduate students.
I am thankful for Halifax’s Farmers market, and most especially to the farmers for growing the things I get to buy there, and for the incredible luck that brought my farmer’s market pal and I together.
I am thankful for the Halifax Ashtanga Yoga Shala, without which I would be a far more hunched, stressed person.
And I’m thankful for you, readers, who have let us here at hook&eye know there’s an engaged audience out there.
Hook & Eye 