Weeknotes #1

It was the cards* and Peggy Seeger that made me do this.

Thanks to Neil Tamplin for telling me about weeknotes and Sam Villis for her ‘why’. I appreciate the welcome.

Quick intro to me: Business Analyst (digital/agile stuff) contracting in the public sector and have also worked in the charity and private sector. I won’t be writing about my 9–5 too much though will hopefully reflect out-loud on what my week has triggered or taught me. If you want more ‘me’ start with my quietly loud manifesto.

Finding your level

It’s been Sheffield’s Off The Shelf Festival so I had the pleasure of listening to different authors over the last two weeks. On Friday it was folk singer, Peggy Seeger. I know very little about folk music and that didn’t matter as she spoke openly about life, loves, successes and challenges alongside her music. Good Q&A at the end where she spoke about finding one thing — then doing it. Reminded us that if all our worries about the world, politics, family, climate change, etc seem over-whelming — stop. Think of the small things you can do (she talked about ‘finding your level’) and do those things. At least to start with.

Someone in the audience made comments which Peggy probably disagreed with. It sounded like most in room did too. (It was about trees which is currently an emotive and important topic for many in Sheffield). Peggy listened, responded and loudly applauded that person’s right to their views and made sure they weren’t dismissed. I liked her.

Fear vs trust

I had to do something this week which I’d been worrying and quietly raging about for a while. It was a conversation which would be difficult for me though I’d sensed the person in question would handle it ok. It went even better than I expected. I was bold enough to put my trust in them. In return, they listened, spoke, listened again and then put into action what I needed. The emotional relief this gave me was a reflection of my fear of having misplaced trust in someone. I’ll aim to remember that fear when someone next puts their trust in me and ensure I take the time to listen.

(Some of) My blogging backlog

I cried at b/w repeats of Lassie as a child. Sometimes before anything bad actually happened. It was a few years later that I realised I’m actually a rather sensitive soul..

• Why I don’t cry enough (this isn’t true). Quick aside — roll on it becoming socially acceptable to watch A Muppet’s Christmas Carol as I even enjoy a good cry at that. Every. Single. Year.
• Why I started contracting and I don’t plan to go perm again. Though I’ve forgotten to look up enough this year and last week’s rubber duck is me starting to plan other things I could do next year outside my 9–5.
• A letter to my inner voice. My overdue homework from the excellent WomenEd unconference last month. I’ll get it done this week.
• Why people don’ t talk about their mental health (me at least). I am well — and play close attention to help make sure it stays that way — and can see what stops me being more open about it.

Agile Sheffield’s meet-up this week is focusing on backlogs. I’m intending on applying some of what I learn to place the important blogging ideas at the top of my list.

Some things I read/listened to

The new landscape of digital transformation

Generalised anxiety, Social anxiety and “low mood”

Good (But Hard) Questions — Episode 1

Peggy Seeger — If you’ve got this far, thank you. Now go listen to Gonna be an engineer and read her lyrics.

Til next week. Or til #2 — whenever that may be.

*As per my rubber duck I’m still shuffling my cards.