Renewal by "gut punch"

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin referred to his prostate cancer diagnosis as a "gut punch." While Austin received more attention for not revealing the health challenge earlier and more publicly, it is the gut punch that caught my attention. Diagnosis for any life threatening illness is traumatic and is likely to result in dark nights following long days of exploring prognosis and treatment options.

The moment we realize, perhaps for the first time, that we are vulnerable to something outside our control can also be an opportunity to refocus on the things that matter most. Joy Jones-Carmack revealed the recentering that she experienced as a result of her cancer diagnosis. In fascinating ways, her advice applies not only to traumatizing health events but perhaps to the general well-being of all faculty and staff who are attempting to recenter after the COVID pandemic. The major recommendations include:

• Don't let your career keep you from focusing on your health.
• Take leave if you want to, and make the most of it if you do.
• Be willing to relinquish control.
• Don't be afraid to get personal or be transparent.
• Realize you won't be the same afterward.

As institutions continue to encounter rough waters, especially related to budget cuts, discontinuation of programs, and faculty lay-offs, the expansion of institutional mission will have to be critically examined. The unexamined assumption that academic excellence is all about individual agency and meritocratic achievement may deserve to be challenged. "Can we learn to understand collective problem-solving or institutional reform as accomplishments that are as valuable as publications? Can writing become a practice that helps us thrive in place."

Hmmh... Might each day have more purpose and impact if we took the foot off the gas in ways that reflect this advice? Passion for what we do is a good thing but can also blind us from the limitations of our own humanity. Conviction punctuated by reflection and humility, sometimes stimulated by a shocking moment, may have the potential for greater impact than we could ever have imagined.