What value am I in this world?

August 21, 2023

I have researched the origin of AA [Affirmative Action], watched two episodes from the "Many Rivers to Cross" PBS Series, and read the summary of the latest (6.2023) Supreme Court opinion of the use of Affirmative Action at Harvard and UNC.

There is more for me to research.

I enrolled in a no-credit online course offered by the Ross Business School at the University of Michigan after leaving my company. I remember my Dad asking me when I would take a break. I laughed and said maybe later. I didn't fully realize what I was doing until I re-read this now. I left the company on August 4th and then spent the following week "staycationing" with my husband and kids, packing a full summer of fun into their last week of summer vacation before they headed back to school. Then, on August 15th, I dove head-first into this DEI class, apparently using all of my see-how-productive-I-can-be skills to "pass" the class.

Around this time, I remember my counselor advising me to sit outside with a cup of tea and just drink it, without doing anything else. I found it really difficult to do.

Then she suggested that I buy a plant and take care of it. The plant died and I bought fake ones.

Slowing down was a challenge for me.

If I'm not doing something, being something, or getting something done, then what am I? What value am I in this world?

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