The Note is me reflecting... click reply, let me know what you're thinkin' 'bout these days. Feel free to share "The Note" with friends: http://ReflectivePractice.space 

//

Wednesday, August 18th, 0700-0745 MST 

"CoffeeChat" in Colorado Springs at Loyal Coffee, 408 S Nevada Ave

Monday, August 22nd, 7 pm-8 pm CST 

"The Earned Life" book chat. Register here.

//

2022 - Y.4 N.13 That Thing You Write In

Hi ,

About every 8-10 weeks, I start a new Moleskine. Thanks to my friend Bull, I am now using a different-sized one than I used to use, it's about 7" by 4.5" and what I love about it is that it fits in a pocket! (My outer suit pocket, my back jeans pocket.) Starting a new journal means I get to re-view and re-fresh what I carry around "just" about every where I go.

Yes, when Jodi and I went out to listen to music and enjoy a beer last night...I brought my notebook. I never know when something will pop to my mind and need to be in my leader book. And, I'm not the only one...

Over the past couple of weeks, I've been watching more MasterClass. They are that good! I love the "audio" feature of the app; I can stream the content through my phone into my car on my drive to/from work. Of course, there have been several times that I've had to get to the office (or home) and go back to parts of each class.

You probably noticed I called it four different things up there. I guess another word I could use is diary, note taker, or logbook. What I find more important than what I call it, though, is what it does. Last night, I sat on the floor and spread a stack of 8 past registers (boom...did it again!) around me, opening each one and flipping pages until...

...I saw something that I had to add to the new one. You see when I see something that I wrote - say, in October of 2020 - I want the chance to re-look at it through my lens of today. So many times that I've done this, I've seen that I notice (think, feel, imagine) something different than what I had when I wrote it back then. I looked at some notes before even picking my dissertation topic or knowing that Covid was en route to Alabama! So, as I look at what I've copied over into the new one, I smile and think: "I wonder what thoughts I'll have later because of what I'm writing now?"

Here's an entry from early this summer that I'll re-draft in the new book; it's that good of page.

Ok, because a few folks have asked recently, I'll share a bit of the behind-the-scenes of how I use my idea-capturing tool...

Covers: This one has THREE zaps (that's Air Force for "sticker") on the front: DAF Women's Air and Space Power Symposium, Women's Initiative Team Breaking Barriers, Space Force. On the back: Leader Development Course!

Inside the front cover, I've got a "sticker mirror." It covers just about the entire inside front cover, and I intend to ensure that when I write my reflections, I'm ensuring that I'm writing them to myself. Next to the sticker my name and phone number and a couple of quotes: For now, I have:

"I build leaders who reflect." 

"Everything you see is a reflection; there is all-ways more going on."

"When you're curious, you find lots of things to do." (That one's by Disney.)

In the pocket in the back, I've got some cash, a few postage stamps, two thank you cards, some business cards, three return-address stickers, and a blank 3X5 note card... 'cause you never know.

Now, spread around the pages (and, yes, I make a Table of Contents that I update as I go along!), I've got some labeled pages and some filled pages. One of my favorite pastimes is making journals for friends where I title random pages. The idea is that they use the notebook daily, but when they get to one of the pages I titled, they have to stop and write. My favorite? When they send a picture of what they did. (Hint hint!)

A few that generally show up, along with some random samplings:

JW's Threes

(1) Delegate, (2) Automate, (3) Eliminate [to be more productive] 

(1) Time, (2) Times, (3) Timing [what it takes to change]

(1) Hold, (2) Walk Along, (3) Cross [the line] 

(1) Notice, (2) Ignore, (3) Fix [the problem] 

From...To...

Disorganized... organized

Alone...together

Constrained...free

Waiting...acting

The _____________ of Connection

Needs

Fears

Research

Outcomes

When I sit down with folks and talk about THEIR reflective practices, we always give each other ideas we didn't have before. I added four items to only three lists I've got going; I know there will be more as I make my way through meetings, travel, and thinking time. That's the most crucial part... I like to think before I have to think, so I feel a little bit more when I do think. Join me?

I'm heading downstairs to join Jodi on the patio. I hope you're having a wonderful weekend and that you'll find a journal and let your pen/cil move across the page. Maybe you make a list. Perhaps you draw a picture. You could even put some thoughts down that you know you'll think about differently...later. (Oh, and by the way: Here is a calendar with prompts you can use to reflect... regularly: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/yp230743) 

A big aloha and hug your way from Montgomery,

Dr. JW

PS: Here is a calendar with prompts you can use to reflect... regularly: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/yp230743

How did The Note* from MGM (Montgomery, AL) begin?

Jodi and I moved to Alabama in 2019. After being here for just less than a week, I opened up my email to send a note to my family in friends in California and beyond. Jodi was on her way to join me here, so I took some time to reflect on this significant life decision/change I had initiated. That Tuesday, January 22nd, 2019, I sent an email at 9:38 pm (or, as I was beginning to learn: 2138). Here's how it started:

Today was my first day as an employee of the United States Air Force. And, I am bold enough to say I've never been prouder or more excited to serve a community.

Though I "moved" to Alabama last Wednesday [Jodi plans to be here Monday], I went to my New Employee Orientation just today. The 90-minute briefing culminated in me taking the Oath:

"I, Jason Womack, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well; and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter. So help me God."

All at the same time, I felt pride, Honor, and a hefty dose of responsibility. I'm helping leaders on a grand scale.

*The following Sunday, and many subsequent Sundays!, I've sent a note to my family and friends. Thanks for reading, and gratitude (more!) for clicking reply and letting me know what YOU'RE reflecting on!