The past few weeks have reminded me of the importance of rituals to mark beginnings, endings and the lifetimes in between.
At work, we have celebrated new jobs and roles, baby showers, reunions, farewells and retirements.
Took 50+ contracts & 14 years, but I’m now in a continuing role at the university. Thanks to the many (MANY) colleagues who supported me along the way, and to the union @NTEUNational – seriously wouldn’t have made it here without you. Seriously.
— Karina Luzia (@acahacker) July 1, 2019
Last day in the office at MQ … it has been an amazing experience, full of great friends, good coffee and wonderful opportunities to grow. Considering a beer or two after the full faculty meeting pic.twitter.com/NgLPq4toPx
— Mitch Parsell (@mitchparsell) July 11, 2019
Day 1 pic.twitter.com/ndgnOnA011
— Mitch Parsell (@mitchparsell) July 15, 2019
Day 8. Looks great, very cold. pic.twitter.com/FrFWncpnDl
— Mitch Parsell (@mitchparsell) July 23, 2019
With family and friends, we have celebrated my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary (pictured below, the tie my father wore to get married in 1969), birthdays, winter solstice and 100 days of learning for the Kindergarten kids at school.
These celebrations has been a break from ordinary routines and an opportunity to acknowledge successes, transitions and milestones.
The event that sparked this post was the retirement of my PhD supervisor, Professor Nick Mansfield, who first taught me as an undergraduate student nearly 25 years ago. In the University’s recent Higher Degree Research newsletter, we reflected on our relationship (thanks to Sally Purcell for organising this):
|
|||||||||||
|
Happy celebrating!