During university orientation last week our lecturers said that we would have to decide what we’re going to give up to make space in our lives for study. It’s something that I’ve been told at the beginning of every course and still it takes me by surprise when I realise just how much work is involved in university study (and I’m not even a high-achieving student).
Yesterday I had the day off work. I had hoped to hit the road for a 2-3 hour bicycle ride. However, I also had 2-3 hours of readings to complete for one of my units (Literacy at Work), then I had classes from 4pm – 8pm. Normally, I would have completed the readings earlier but they weren’t available until the weekend and I’d been too busy doing additional readings.
So, my 2-3 hour bicycle ride became the first casualty of my new life as a full-time worker and part-time student. But I am committed to my health, so I made time during the day for a short 35km spin.
The air smelled damp and muddy as I rode through the Logan River flood plains. All around me the earth has become saturated so water is now sitting on the surface or expanding beyond the boundaries of creeks and dams.
Trees and clouds reflect on the surface of the dark brown water. There’s beauty in everything natural, even when the same natural phenomenon are annoying, frustrating and inconvenient.
I felt flat during the ride. Though that’s probably a feature of my running out of testosterone tablets and not being organised enough to buy a new packet on time. And the challenge of finding a new routine now that I’ve added both university study and Scout leadership to my schedule will have something to do with the fatigue too.
Total: 35.2km road cycle
You continue to amaze me with the number of activities you fill your day with. Don’t spread yourself too thin, Andrew!
The study is something I am really excited about and enjoying. I’ve been studying one thing or other at university since I left school, with a few breaks between. I find that when I study humanities / social justice subjects I get very passionate and find the study rewarding. To me, education falls within that paradigm. I love the intellectual stimulation I get from study; though I do wish there was more space for intellectual discourse in the way the course is taught – I want to argue the philosophy, psychology and practice of education as a tool for social justice with someone who is engaged with the topic. One of my lecturers is brilliant in this regard but the other gave us death by PowerPoint last night and became defensive when students asked questions or challenged her statements.
I have recently decided to train as a Scout Leader. I signed up on Tuesday night. My reason is to share my outdoor skills with the next generation of outdoorsmen and women. I strongly believe that those of us who have the skills have a social obligation to share our passion for being outdoors with the next generation, whether formally or informally. Scouts seems like a really good way to do it (fortunately Scouts Australia does not share Scouts USA’s prohibition on GLBT leaders). I also hope it will provide me with a much-needed social network of adults who are also interested in the outdoors but not necessarily in performance-based training.
So the place where I’m finding balance and making compromises is in my training. I am adjusting my expectations and goals. I will still be doing lots of races but my sister and I are just there for fun and fitness, so I can adjust my training to suit that goal. Besides, after the injuries of last year, I don’t think I’m ready for high mileage just yet.