Once upon a time, before we were editors of Reify 8&21, we were both instructors at the same university.
And while we were there, we both talked with our students about the importance of reflection.
We've found that the practice of reflecting on what you've learned can help you commit more information to memory, celebrate how far you've come, and grow confidence in your ability to learn
Sarah Glova and Sarah Egan Warren - also known as The Two Sarahs
Creators and Editors of Reify 8&21
“Reflection gives the brain an opportunity to pause amidst the chaos, untangle and sort through observations and experiences, consider multiple possible interpretations, and create meaning. This meaning becomes learning, which can then inform future mindsets and actions.”
I took something away from each Reify 8&21 issue that we created, but I continue to revisit
Issue 5: Con·fi·dence (n)
In that issue, we explored the term “confidence” from its root, reclaiming the term's foundation in trust.
I've been working on trusting myself more—especially when an outcome is uncertain—and when I need a little inspiration, I like to go back and re-read that issue.
Sarah Egan Warren
My favorite issue this year (so far) was
Issue 10: Priority (Singular)
Although I still need to purposefully practice, I have learned that time boxing is one way that I can be completely present.
By focusing on ONE priority at a time, I can be more effective and more engaged—whether that is with my work, family, friends, projects, or even focusing time on self-care.
The myth of multitasking left me feeling like I was doing nothing well—stretched and distracted all the time. So, I intentionally schedule time for different priorities so that I don’t feel pulled in many directions at once.
"When I see a Reify 8&21 email, I either open it right away or save and savor it later. Who doesn’t like to be reminded to build your confidence, be more resilient, and to feel inspired, all while weeding out regret?
The three or so minutes it takes to wander through a Reify 8&21 email twice a month is taking precious moments to feed one’s soul!
One theme that really resonated with me was in
Issue 11: When stars align
How the process of realignment is not a
one-time fix, but rather, something to be mindful of, and to revisit frequently."
- Dr. Lisa M. Paciulli, Department of Biological Sciences at
North Carolina State University
"When I read
Issue 6: What if we call it “practice”?
I remember loving the idea of calling something that you're working on 'a practice'. That's a fun mental shift."
- Dawn Daria, Education Director with Flow Circus and
Engagement Specialist with Energizing Events
(Dawn also recommended the quote by Alice Walker, shared below,
as another quote for this issue's “reflection” theme.)
“The wisdom
is in the pause.”
- Alice Walker, author of
The Color Purple, and the first
African-American woman
to win the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Want to look back?
Here are the themes we've explored so far this year: