Before you read the rest, three things for ya

1. We’ve turned the page on a new month AND a new year, welcome to us all.

2. For those who’ve not read a Sunday Note for more than a year, “Hi!”

3. For those reading for the first time, I’ll share a bit about “what this is” below*

Hiya ,

Attention has felt deliberate this week. What I focus on and – perhaps more importantly – what I ignore.

Maybe it’s because it’s a new year, or maybe it’s ‘cause I want to commit to regular reflection. Honestly, it was time to re-read Chapter 1 of my dissertation! I regularly say "Thank You" to my entire dissertation committee for guiding me through researching the topic of "Reflective Practice." It changed my life!

On Reflecting

To those who know me… you know that I keep a small Moleskine journal on my nightstand. The very last thing I do each day is respond to a thought-prompt. (I can get you those prompts, if you’d like!) 

This week, I completed the 2025 journal and started 2026; one door closing, another opening. Some sentences are complete; others are not. Sometimes I draw, or list, or ramble… the only thing I hold myself accountable to is: FILL THE PAGE with my own handwriting. 

@Work

My work = more important than ever. A few weeks ago, in one of those meetings we have ALL had to attend, each of us introduced ourselves briefly.

My intro went something like this:

“I’m Dr. Womack, an industrial psychologist working with Command Teams as they strengthen connectedness throughout their units.”

My work is laid out before me.

Throughout the organizations I serve and the members I meet with, engagement is present. Concern is too. The past 11 months have been a whirlwind as we’ve all had to figure out our place in it all. The concern I mentioned doesn’t feel like panic; though I can feel the weight on some leaders’ shoulders.

The importance of what we do, how we do it, and who we do it for shows up in pauses, in how long I sit before responding, in the care taken with words that COULD come quickly. At the same time, I keep moving forward, while people I care deeply about work hard to put one foot in front of the other.

That reality changes pacing, sharpens time, and it reprioritizes what matters moment to moment. 

My Mama

I got to FaceTime with my mom three times this week. A screen lit up, and her face filled the frame. The pauses are long, and sometimes she can’t find the word she wants – post-stroke aphasia is to blame. I loved the way she watched me while I talked. I shared updates, wondering how to talk so that it’s easier to follow my meandering mind. 

Mentoring

I met with a mentor for coffee (I think he would say the same thing) and we traded updates and left with commitments. The topics of conversation were meaningful and direct, but not urgent. He held space to share slowly. I got a book recommendation and shared a fav workplace productivity methodology. We also started planning a Grand Canyon hike at the end of March…wanna join us?

NOTE: January is National Mentoring month... call yours!

Community Coming Together

Toward the end of Sunday’s 10K (a fundraiser for Altadena, CA – the city that burned a year ago this month), attention narrowed to breath and rhythm. The number at the end matched my intention: I finished in just over 50 minutes… 52 was the private target. My body carried the distance through the light rain. That was enough for the day. (Oh, and Jodi ran the 5K!)

ProDev

I read this week… more than in months past. I'm focused more than ever on Professional Development, so when a mentor suggested I read the book he was reading... I ordered it that day! The first two chapters of Payne’s book* sat differently than expected. A lot of underlining, even more noticing. A sentence would register, then attention would drift to what it stirred up.

This feels like a season for opening up to how much I am familiar with, less scanning and more letting strategic thinking work for me at an increased pace. 

Thank you for being here along with me as we all continue our journey together. Sending you my best as we start a new year...

JW

References and Links...

* The Sunday Note started back in 2019, and has gone through a few iterations. It's a pause each weekend long enough to put some ideas together and send them out to you.

* Chapter 1 of my dissertation

* Moleskine journal I use

* Altadena 10K and 5K run

* “The Great American Gamble,” by Payne