Seriously
I spent two hours in the hair salon today, and while I emerged looking a little too much like Snow White, I thoroughly enjoyed spending time with people who take life less seriously. I am so immersed in the world of educational technology, that I sometimes forget there are people out there who have no idea that it exists and there is an ongoing battle for freedom and access to information.
What a treat to observe people connecting in person and actually touching each other! There was no need for political correctness, professionalism, or brevity. The stories flowed like wine (can I mention wine i my professional blog?), unfiltered and raw. One stylist carelessly showed off her suicide attempt scars while another spoke about receiving a gift of a hand-knitted blanket. Someone discussed a failed relationship, before continuing on to present the tale of her new love and the promise of the future. I learned of practical jokes, travel woes and family celebrations. I learned I take myself and my career way too seriously.
I am not on a mission to change the world, one instructor at a time. I delight in the little successes and share what I learn with others who can benefit. While my work is important, people learn without technology. Students grow and better their lives without access. Instructors can work around filters and lack of support. The most important thing I do is connect with people. I need to learn to take the process and tools less seriously and focus on the people and strengthening connections. I want to relax about the tools and let the stories flow.
April 19th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Amen! Good words to live by. Strip it all away and it still works if you’ve got folks with a heart to teach.
April 19th, 2008 at 8:52 pm
2 hours? OMG. Man, barbershops dont run like that. Its business-like and quick. Though there is good communication about football and fishing
To me its attitude you can carry or not in the salon or ustream.tv, the technology really does not matter. It is the vehicle, as Gardner Campbell paints it.
Are the Snow White pix on flickr?
April 20th, 2008 at 7:28 am
It’s absolutely amazing what you can learn when you get a haircut. Barbershops/salons are continue to be meeting places where the exchange of information and worldviews are shared. I should get my stylist to start a blog. The content would be fantastic. (Yes, I said stylist b/c barber just did not fit! LOLOL)
April 20th, 2008 at 8:36 am
I have to go along with Alan…my 70 year old barber would fall asleep if we spent 2 hours on my hair (what little there is…). But I love the tone behind the message, quit taking ourselves so seriously and stop and smell the roses…or even dandelions!
May 11th, 2008 at 9:22 pm
i spent a weekend in san francisco after a presentation for sfusd. my thoughts ran this way- “if we are trying to present something different, why do we look just like educators always have?”
and decided one more tech guy presenting at a conference in a subtle tie- or whoa- some cartoony tie- would put me over the edge.
yes, let’s stop being so serious. thank you for confirming my thoughts with some of your own- found you through wagner’s tweets since i was in s.f. this weekend too
nononi28