Professional Development Minutes

I'm excited.     I just ordered a new pair of sandals.     So, I can walk      and explore      and enjoy the outdoors.     I'm looking forward to a great summer.         Finally.

Anyone else feel a bit gloomy tonight? I think it's all the rain.

stacks of books  i read  as an undergraduate  dust covered  forgotten  i boxed,  bagged and shipped off to a local thrift store so someone else  could  fall head  over heels  in love with learning.

My name (melissa) means "honeybee".  ©Daniel Prudek/Shutterstock.com According to Jennifer Gaeng , " Honeybees  are perhaps one of the most important creatures that we have here on earth". They produce honey. They are extremely significant pollinators, valued in the agriculture industry. The  beeswax they produce is used in science and medicine.  What does your name mean? Share below.

“If every day were Earth Day we wouldn’t be in the mess we’re in.”                                — Neil deGrasse Tyson Photos taken by melissa fockler, 2012

Looking for a cool outing? Check ou t  Evergreen Brickworks .  Click  here  for more information.  Cows, pigs, sheep, horses, goats --  Riverdale Farm!  Don't underestimate the cuteness of the goats.  Medieval history, the bat cave, dinosaurs... I'm talking about the Royal Ontario Museum . Oh, the bat cave!  Other cool sites: University of Toronto's St. George Campus, City Hall, Kensington Market, Toronto Reference Library, Art Gallery of Ontario (AG0), Hockey Hall of Fame  Add to this list. Comment below.

Nick Drake's "Northern Sky"   Sing along optional:  Would you love me for my money? Would you love me for my head? Would you love me through the winter? Would you love me 'til I'm dead? Oh, if you would and you could Come blow your horn on high

nothing rivals  the smell of rain except the scent   of burning pumpkin  [breathe it in soak it up let it linger].

today, i  pruned a tree  painted a chair and  accepted  a last-minute  invite  to a wedding:  now i have an excuse to put on a dress and heels.

“Even the smallest one can change the world.”  - Peter Rabbit, Beatrix Potter   Photo credits: Picture 1, Picture 2 , Picture 3 . 

According to the Oxford Dictionary of English, mental health is " a person's condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being ".  Mental health is no laughing matter. For 10 years, as a graduate student, I struggled with mental health issues. Emotionally I was overwhelmed. Everyday I felt like I was drowning. I experienced intense fear of failure and low self-esteem.   In many ways, I consider myself lucky to have survived, to be alive today. It is well documented. Graduate students are struggling.  There is a mental health crisis in higher education . Puri (2019)   states: A recent Harvard study concluded that graduate students are over  three times  more likely than the average American to experience mental health disorders and depression.   When you feel yourself slipping, reach out to your friends and family. Find ways to support your own mental health today, so you can see the sun shine tomorrow. Being on the other side, havin...