ELAINE HENDRIKS SMITH, PH.D.

Every leadership thing you read will tell you to celebrate successes, all of the successes. Take a moment when you have a personal success and do something to mark the occasion.

To find joy.

So. Yesterday was my prospectus defense. I passed. I have the best dissertation committee. My favorite moments were when they disagreed with me. There is so much to learn from scholars when they disagree with me. I am so excited about the list of books I am going to read. I feel ready to start doing the work that they have asked me to do. I’m weirdly excited to get started.

So, with an open notebook in hand, journaling my observations from my prospectus defense…my smart watch dinged…twice. First, was my friend, a recent graduate of my program, who texted me “how are you going to celebrate?” The second was my cohort, a friend who started her PhD journey with me. She was busy packing to move – but she took a moment to say, “I’m proud of you” and “How are you going to celebrate?”

I had forgotten something I was keenly aware of for all the years I was in leadership positions. CELEBRATE!

I finished up my observations, put down my notebook, turned on the NBA finals (Pistons were playing) and told Denny that this weekend, we are going to the beach. Then…before I could do anything else, I fell asleep.

I slept straight through to the morning. I have no idea if I had dreams or nightmares. I just slept. I have decided that sleeping is part of celebrating for graduate students.

So, now, writing this with bed-head, I’ve decided this weekend…beach.

Next week I will pick my journal back up…and dissertate again.

But first, I need to find out how the Piston’s game ended.