My motivation in one particular class has been flagging. I’m not convinced that the professor actually reads our papers and I’m somewhat indifferent about any feedback he would provide anyway. A ten page paper was due yesterday. I pulled off an amazing feat: I wrote the paper in about 48 hours. Not wanting to spend any more time on it than was absolutely necessary, I made myself feel the pressure of completion. Maybe this is just a testament to my growth, but it didn’t really stress me out. Two year ago? Yes, I would have been a mess.
That isn’t to say that it was an easy paper to write. It wasn’t. Actually, it was excruciating considering the circumstances (prof, topic, motivation, etc.) But, I found something to help me through: The Decorah Eagles.
You probably heard about them. It seems anyone with an internet connection knows about them. For those not in the know, it is a web camera located in an eagles' nest. When I first started watching, I totally felt like I was violating their privacy. I soon overcame that feeling and started to appreciate this avian family. They helped me through the day. I keep one window open on my computer desktop so I can watch the eagles, the other window was open to the document I am working on. When I get bored or need a distraction, I watch the birds for a while, then I go back to work. It is the perfect study break. Yesterday, I got to watch the mama feed the little ones. Today, I’ve marveled at how the eagle sits so patiently on the young to keep them warm and protected.
Everyone has a trick to help them through their dissertation; I think one of mine is the Decorah Eagles.
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