Comments for Civil Civil Servant

Comment on Mass Transit Meditation by Meditation | Civil Civil Servant

Meditation | Civil Civil Servant — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 10:49:50 +0000

[...] maker buzzes. This takes 9 minutes. Once the coffee maker buzzes I add on a round or a few of loving kindness meditation and call it done. I have found this to be (so far) an easy way to avoid all the excuses. Yes, [...]

Comment on Librarian as Superhero by Ann Wilberton

Ann Wilberton — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 15:07:15 +0000

I totally agree. I love having these discussions. Most of my non-librarian friends are not regular users of the library. They aren’t necessarily dismissive; but, they do not use it. When I pursue further inquiry, I come up with a few different camps: I have so many fines that I’m blocked. Oddly these folks are embarrassed to go in and try to clear up their accounts. I try to reassure them that fines are quite ordinary and folks coming in to clear up their fines is an every day occurrence. There is also the contingent that just buys whatever they want. Some of these folks have expressed they didn’t want to keep track of due dates and schlepping items back and forth. If these folks have e-readers, I try to turn them on to the availability of e-book borrowing. Some folks have expressed that the hours of their branch library are inconvenient. I am happy to report that all of my friends who have children are regular patrons of their public libraries. Of all the people in my life, my parents are the most avid and regular library patrons. They go once a week. Is it any wonder that I ended up in the library field?

Comment on Librarian as Superhero by bringyournoise

bringyournoise — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 15:58:19 +0000

My most recent post addresses this issue, too, but from a different perspective. I suggested that these opportunities are the perfect time to ask questions and learn rather than educate. In fact, you listed several questions that remained on your mind after you left. I wonder what would have happened if you would have actually asked some of them. I think we can learn a lot from people who are dismissive of libraries if we ask the right questions rather than trying to tell them why they are wrong. But a good elevator speech/story never hurts either! : )

Comment on Some Thoughts to close 2012 by Ann Wilberton

Ann Wilberton — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 18:07:59 +0000

Thank you. I think it’s one of the harder things to do. I know that I find it hard to always take responsibility for the kind of negative pollution that I sometimes feel when I allow a coworker to irritate me. It’s so much easier to just put it at their feet: if they weren’t so irritating I wouldn’t feel this way. It’s such a human reaction to do that. I use this exercise to combat that. I have found it useful.

Comment on Some Thoughts to close 2012 by bringyournoise

bringyournoise — Mon, 17 Dec 2012 14:36:36 +0000

I love, love, love your advice about dealing with negative feelings for a coworker. Thanks for posting.

Comment on Surviving the Rat Race by Chris

Chris — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 01:07:19 +0000

Thanks, I like this list. I also find being writing a list of things in our present lives to be grateful for. Focusing on the negative can suck our energy, so focusing on being grateful for the things we have boost our energy and happiness. Therefore, we can be more focused and productive. I read the books by Eckhart Tolle which also helped a lot to focus my mind.

Cheers,

Chris

Comment on Surviving the Rat Race by Ann Wilberton

Ann Wilberton — Fri, 21 Sep 2012 19:10:49 +0000

Well, I loved your article. It brought up so many interesting points. I think a lot of non profit fields have burnout for the same reasons as the library field. More and more asked of fewer people and usually for a good cause. I had a friend in arts administration and she was burned out after two years. And kudos to the whole In the Library with a Leadpipe crew; I’m always happy when a new article shows up in Google Reader.

Comment on Surviving the Rat Race by Erica Jesonis

Erica Jesonis — Thu, 20 Sep 2012 14:23:10 +0000

Great post! Thanks for mentioning my article, and I love the tips you give. I need to start working on my list…

Comment on Hi. Can I help you? by Ellie Strbo

Ellie Strbo — Fri, 14 Sep 2012 13:16:13 +0000

Awesome post from an awesome person! great food for thought! Thanks.

Comment on Note to Self: I forgive you. by Jen

Jen — Fri, 06 Jul 2012 01:07:37 +0000

Reblogged this on Be Nice. and commented: One of my favorite bloggers, Ann, writes about shame and vulnerability here in her post "Note to self: I forgive you." I especially enjoyed the end, where she talks specifically about the link between vulnerability, shame, and joy. Very powerful.