January+2017

So I've been a little busy
Since 2010 I have tried to write a bit every month and post it here, but July to December of 2016 filled up with writing my dissertation. As I sit here on January 23rd, 2017 my dissertation still isn't done, but I do think that I am getting close to having a completed draft, front to back. I really don't know exactly when I'll hand it over to my Supervisor so we can get into the back & forth of essential edits, but I hope it will be soon. Who knows how long until this entire Doctoral program/experience draws to a close.

Good friends and family are curious to know if I'm done, or if I'm close to done, and all I have to say is that this is hard work. Hard because of the task of analysis and writing, but also hard because there are so many competing demands on my time. I got most of the writing done in July and August, and it has slowed to a trickle since September. The fact that I am writing this little entry here & now indicates to me that I'm feeling a little better about the dissertation process. A friend of mine reminded me that easy things are common, and easy things aren't as valued as hard things, so the fact that this is hard suggests that it is also rare and valuable. Doing hard things is hard, but it is worthwhile. That was encouraging, but I'm sure looking forward to doing fun things that aren't as hard as dissertation drafting. Like maybe eating BBQ chicken on the deck. Or mowing the lawn. Or lying on the beach.

Anyways, I keep looking forward, since that's the only way that I might catch a glimpse of any light at the end of this tunnel.

Happy New Year. Here's to finishing well.