I am back from the bumpy seas of Asia and I can frankly say I feel like I have been mislaid somewhere as it feels so strange to be home. I have been looking through everybody’s blogs for the past hour and I am so impressed and inspired that I am looking forward to getting stuck in with the second part of the course.
I have been writing a journal for the past two weeks which has had a positive effect on me and has encouraged me to make the most of each day. The contract I have just completed was rather tough and at times I felt like part of the machinery on the ship! Everyday was basically identical from the food to waking up looking at the same faces, so writing a journal and reflecting on each day was very motivating. I have been reading Cery’s blog on “Journal writing” and I can really connect with her statement that “Life happens so quickly and we are always looking forward to the next thing that sometimes we forget to take the time to look back” I am a prime example of rushing through life. On the ship I done a countdown chart which I would mark of at the end of each day, but after 50 days of doing this I realized I am actually wishing my life away. I am a massive thinker and analyze everything and I can remember thinking to myself why do I feel this way, how can I make my time on here better and what can I learn from this experience. So without even realizing it I was reflecting! Each contract is a new experience, another chapter in my life to reflect on to see what was right for me and where I should aim to go next. “Turning experience into learning.”? Boud (English and Gillen,2001) I completely relate to this as I believe everybody learns from their experiences and that is why (most of the time) you don’t make the same mistake twice. You are constantly learning because of experiences you have on a day-to-day basis. One of the schools I teach in I have a energetic but sometimes difficult child and I was very strict with him in my first class which actually made him rebel more. I reflected upon this experience and I learnt that maybe I should be calmer and praise him more and guess what this worked a treat!
I feel writing a journal is going to benefit me greatly, as after an audition or a class I always reflect on what happened but I feel writing it down will help for it to become clearer. Also the environment and kind of work that I do can make you think too much. I believe recording your feelings is very beneficial as I have had sleepless nights worrying about organizing dance events, auditions or thinking am I to fat or to small. Puzzling through my feelings on paper will make me have a deeper understanding of what I want, and how I am going to get it, instead of all my feelings being locked up in my head.
Cery Dixie Blogspot-http://cerysdixie.blogspot.com/2010/11/journal-writing.html- Accessed 10/11/10
Boud (English and Gillen,2001)- Accessed 10/11/10
