Message Response Time

 I used to be someone who responds to messages immediately, but not any more. I started prolonging my responses to people who take ages to respond, and that habit is starting to seep through into all my communication. At first, I would be annoyed by people who didn't respond quickly but not any more. Some people are busier amd have more active social life than others, and as my social activity ahs picked up, I can appreciate that it is not difficult to fall behind on responding to messages. Responding to messages too fast can put pressure o the opposite person to keep up, and I am warming to the slower pace of communication. And in some cases, responding to quickly can encourage even more unwanted messages. 

Inadequate Supervision

 I had a meeting with a dissertation supervisee this afternoon which had echoes of my interactions with my PhD supervisor. He said he was not satisfied with his work and agreed with my criticism but did not know how to proceed. He seemed to imply that my feedback had pointed out the faults in his work but not given him enough guidance to improve. I remember feeling exactly the same way about my supervisor's feedback and struggling to understand what she expected from me. But, what I have come to realise is she didn't expect anything specific except rigorous research and carefully argued conclusions. Her job, and now my job, is not to issue specific directions but simply provide feedback on the rigour of the work and the presentation of its ideas. Research is a step (however tiny) into the unknown. Sometimes one lands on their feet, sometimes one falters or falls. In the latter cases, it is natural to try to pin blame, either on oneself or on others. But, the fact is that sometimes research does not go according to plan and/or to one's satisfaction, and one should have the humility to accept that.  

Airport Blog With A Difference

 I have a fondness for airport blogs, as reader(s) of this blog would know, but this is a blog with a difference because this time I am not waiting for a flight. I am sitting at an airport restaurant after bidding adieu to my parents returning to India after a three-week trip. I haven't blogged since they arrived because blogging requires space and solitude and I haven't had much of either in the past few weeks. I know I sound like a curmudgeon when I say that, but I am not bitter. I am simply stating a fact, and it was a welcome change from my daily life, which gives me plenty of time and opportunity for reflection. My parents' visit was not without potholes, but those potholes were to do with third parties and not the three of is. My only regret is that I don't drive, as that would have reduced the length of time that we spent with third-parties. Aside from that, there was  lot of fodder for blogging, which I will chew over in the coming weeks. All and all, it was a good visit and I may have discovered a new hobby--fell-running! Although I am not much of a runner, I ran almost every day in the past few weeks. As I was travelling with four seniors, some of whom are not in good shape, running gave me a good workout. Good workout=a sense of achievement + less restlessness + less impatience + more appetite. And, food and the tensions surrounding food choices was a big theme of the last leg of our trip. So, I think I am definitely going to write separate blogs on one's relationship with food and on running.