• About
  • Professional musings

Courting the Muses

~ Writings of Elizabeth A. Katz

Courting the Muses

Monthly Archives: April 2015

Ready to exhale …

26 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by lizscribe24 in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

And I’m exhaling.

This past week, I finished up on the fourth semester of my master’s degree program in Public Relations and Organizational Communications at WSU. It seemed to be a particularly challenging semester for me. There was an enormous amount of reading to do each week, tons of class presentations, and expectations that weren’t clear with the final project — which is never great for someone like me who likes a little direction with things, just so I deliver what’s expected.

There is nothing quite like the feeling of relief one gets, having turned in that final project and completed the final oral presentation. The ride into work the morning after, I feel close to euphoric.

And now, it’s on to four months of freedom!

No more reading 100+ pages of academic articles each week, with terms like ANOVA (analysis of variance, for anyone actually interested!), t tests and control groups knocking about in my head.

It’s an amazing sense of accomplishment after the blood, sweat and tears that go into completing the final research paper, usually about 20 pages … though mine came to 33 pages this time around.

And so, I’ve set my goals and intentions for the summer.

Continue reading →

Advertisement

What’s behind that smile?

19 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by lizscribe24 in Uncategorized

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

smile

“Smile. It’ll make people wonder what you’re up to” – I have no idea who said this.

It’s been said that you can gain insight into yourself by noting the characteristics you most deplore in other people. That’s an interesting concept and one in which you can utilize if you’re really honest with yourself.

In the past, I’ve observed how a smile can be my default facial setting when it comes to approaching life. I’ve known people who go around with both middle fingers raised and that doesn’t seem to curry them much favor with others.

Alternately, sometimes it’s exhausting, having to put a smile on your face when your inner feelings don’t align.

Let's get happy!

Let’s get happy!

I was sparked with the idea about smiling as an act of dishonesty by my fellow blogger Better Not Broken. When is having a smile on your face a disingenuous act?

Continue reading →

Making that Connection

12 Sunday Apr 2015

Posted by lizscribe24 in Uncategorized

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

friends, friendship

“Only connect” – British novelist E.M. Forster

How often do you put yourself out there to connect to others? This is something that I’ve been working on for the last several years. My tendency is to keep the friends I have and not reach out to others to make new friends or to meet new people. I tend to procrastinate on things. I set intentions to reach out and then spend time mulling things over, wondering how people might react.

Hands

As I’ve moved out of my comfort zone, such as going back to school or seeking sources of personal support, I’ve made a lot of new friends who have quickly become lifelines of a sort. They emerged by my reaching out and in my own way, asking for help. It was a scary move but one that has paid off richly. I’ve forged relationships with people with whom I can call at almost any time. We bounce ideas off each other. We support each other in times of crisis. We work through things. We hash things out. My friends are sources of wisdom and insight. They are my chosen family. Continue reading →

Therapy through music

04 Saturday Apr 2015

Posted by lizscribe24 in Uncategorized

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center, music therapy

I was recently published in the Detroit Jewish News, March 26 edition. I wrote about the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Center’s Jeffrey Frank Wacks Music Therapy Program, which takes place at Karmanos’ main hospital and its Farmington Hills facility. The article features a husband of a patient, our talented music therapist Sayako Head and our wonderful oncology social worker Kathleen Hardy.

The program ends in June and Karmanos is looking for different funding sources to keep the program up and running. Since it was established last summer, it has helped approximately 150 patients and their families.

Music is definitely one of the ways I find comfort. I just put on Emmylou Harris and something about her voice soothes me.

Read the article here.

Happy Easter and Happy Passover to all of my friends and readers!

Blogs I Follow

  • Patience Bloom
  • Thought Catalog
  • wordfromthewell
  • The Pema Chodron Foundation
  • zen habits
  • Debra Darvick
  • The Pioneer Woman
  • Lynne Cobb
  • Vivian DeGain Better at 50 Blog

Enter your email address to follow this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 9 other subscribers

Archives

  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2018
  • January 2016
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015

  • lizscribe24

Blog at WordPress.com.

Patience Bloom

Tales and tips from a writer and book editor

Thought Catalog

Thought Catalog is a digital youth culture magazine dedicated to your stories and ideas.

wordfromthewell

Wake up.

The Pema Chodron Foundation

Writings of Elizabeth A. Katz

zen habits

Writings of Elizabeth A. Katz

Debra Darvick

Writings of Elizabeth A. Katz

The Pioneer Woman

Plowing through Life in the Country...One Calf Nut at a Time

Lynne Cobb

Mid-life Random Ramblings...

Vivian DeGain Better at 50 Blog

Columnist and arts writer

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
  • Follow Following
    • Courting the Muses
    • Already have a WordPress.com account? Log in now.
    • Courting the Muses
    • Customize
    • Follow Following
    • Sign up
    • Log in
    • Report this content
    • View site in Reader
    • Manage subscriptions
    • Collapse this bar
 

Loading Comments...