A Note from the Universe

Every day for the past year and a half, I’ve received an email from the Universe. Some days I pay close attention to them, some days they feel hokey and just plain silly. But occasionally there’s an email that just seems to fit perfectly with what I need to hear. The emails remind me I’m part of something larger, I’m not sure what, but they often reassure me that we’re all connected in this strange and hectic world.

This was this morning’s email, which was the first thing I read this morning.

Sometimes the people who know, Kari, don’t know they know. And sometimes the people who don’t know, think they do know.

But you can always tell who is who, because, of course, with knowing comes tolerance, and patience, and love.

Come as you are,
The Universe

The past year and a half of my Master’s has been a learning process that has led me to exactly what the note from the Universe talks about. Growing to know myself has been such a process that has led me down a different path than I would have imagined. If you would have said two years ago that I’d be finishing up a degree in Higher Education, searching for jobs across the country, and planning to move with a boy… well, I’d have said you were crazy. Through many self reflections (both required by professors and otherwise), situations that have tested me to the breaking point, and the relationships I’ve developed with others, I feel as though I am more prepared to handle the next six months in stride. I am taking the first of many steps toward becoming a full-fledged adult and while it’s scary as hell, I’m ready to begin.

More than growing to know myself, the past year and a half has been a test in my abilities to grow and know others. In my first class of the semester on Monday (the one that this blog is required for), as a cohort we took much needed time to learn about one another and truly understand one another’s experience. A group of 30 is bound to have its issues and our cohort certainly has. I know I personally have made assumptions and hurt others by assuming I knew their experience. I haven’t had the patience or tolerance that is required to truly know and understand another.

However, Monday was a stepping stone toward knowing, and with that comes tolerance, patience, and love. By taking an hour and a half to talk about the ways that we have all felt frustrated, or apathetic, or plain mad, I think we were able to understand each other’s experience a bit more. It was helpful to hear others’ thoughts and emotions and know that I wasn’t alone in the growth that came with the past two years.

For that reason, I would like to thank each of my cohort members for the lessons you have taught me over the past year and a half. You have challenged me, made me think, and made me a better professional. While certainly two sentences can’t convey the gratitude I feel, I am excited to share that learning you have helped me experience in our final weeks here at Iowa State.

To end, a picture from a particularly wonderful day several months ago that was shared with several of my student affairs folks. Thank you, Annie, Elyse, and Ashley for sharing what was, for me, a very special day.

P.S. Shameless post for the Glow Run coming up in April! If you want to sign up, I have a team started and ANYONE is welcome! It should be a super-duper-awesome-fun time! (Team: Glowing Gophers)

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