MBS: Mind, Body, and Soul

This is something which I discovered recently. Sometimes, we can oppress our own bodies, in terms of what we eat/or fail to eat, the way our own mental construction of ourselves causes us to neglect sometimes even eating, or because of work. In failing to eat, or failing to eat properly, we oppress our bodies, and then it cries out when we fall ill, or suffer from eating disorders.

In a slightly different way, we also oppress our own souls, when we are hard on ourselves for a course of action we took, or a decision we made; we need not be. Mistakes are there in life to be learnt from, dwelt upon. By dwelling upon a mistake, we sink even deeper, dig ourselves into bigger holes, and are unable to climb out. My reflecting on our mistakes, we are able to those crucial steps away from it, are able to build and delevop ourselves as a result of it, and are able to seek forgiveness from our Creator, and the people on the earth whom we have harmed, injured, or offended.

In terms of our minds, as human begins, we want so much to reach our full potential; to be all that we can be. Sometimes, our wish to do this, can cause us to take on too much information, to try and learn too much. This causes a tightness in the chest, and one may experience difficulties to even breath. What we need to be able to do as human beings is, at times relax. To take a breather, and do something which the mind enjoys. This will vary between different people, but what is important is that we do that which causes the mind to feel relaxed, and happy. Just some random thoughts I wanted to share.

Delivering My First Paper at Literary London 2009

It is said that, ‘when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life’, and feel I must state that I am exhausted after the two-day conference, therefore curtailing Dr Johnson’s statement about the city’s appeal. Yesterday I delivered my first academic paper on eighteenth-century London literature. It was to a floor of academics, proffessors, and PhD students from all across the world (literally) who had come to the Literary London conference held this year at Queen Mary University in order to deliver their own papers, and to hear others.

Of course, I was the only MA student who was at the conference, so I felt incredibly overwhelmed, and out of my depth to start with. On the first half of the first day, therefore, I only observed, and didn’t ask any questions. As Thursday progressed, however, I came to realise that as these lecturers and professors were just as enthusiastic, and just as excited about London as I was, and discussing my ideas with them not only gave me new ideas, but caused me to realise that age-old realisation that every academic comes to at an early part of their career: I was not alone in my field. I therefore began to engage with them more, and I must say, I really enjoyed it. It was so fun, and engaging. All of the lectures were like the best lectures you would have attended during your undergraduate years. Truly inspiring, and I extrapolated lots and lots of ideas for my work-there is a lot of eighteenth-century material I had not known about prior to the past two days. Was so refreshing to hear about London in such diverse, and new ways. Very refreshing.

As much as the conference was enjoyable, having heard a number of speakers deliver their respective papers, I must admit that as Friday drew near, I began to dread giving my own paper more and more. I fully prepared myself, preparing a slide-show, and a handout. Having prepared myself, I went into the Arts lecture theatre to deliver my paper. It went very well, Proffessor Markman Ellis stayed to hear my deliverance, which was very nice of him-considering that he had already read my paper twice! Having Markman there made it all the more exciting to be delivering a paper in such a monumental lecture theatre, commanding a space which had been inhabited by the likes of Anne Janowitz, David Colclough, and other such QM lecturers and professors. The slide worked well, as did the handout, and the questions I was asked in the Q and A session which followed were even more enjoyable to answer.

It was truly a monumental occasion. I had delivered a paper at the Royal Shakespeare Company on teaching Shakespeare prior to this, but I do not really consider that as having ‘delivered a paper’, because though it was on teaching, and was delivered to a floor of Shakespeare academics, it was not on the literature I wish to further research: 18th century London literature. I hope that regardless of where the ever-flowing tide of life takes me in the next two, or three years, it returns me to the shores of Queen Mary. Its where I feel I belong, where I wish to grow old and retire. As much as I love this city, QM is my ‘London’ in reference to Dr Johnson’s aforementioned statement regarding the city.

The Cavalry Has Arrived

After meeting my College Proffessor for afternoon coffee at the British Library the other day, I decided to take a ramble through Kensington Gardens. Of course, this involved actually walking to Queensway from Kings Cross, which took a few hours, but I was adamant (for reasons I cannot actually recall!) to walk through Kensington Gardens that day, so I made the trek.

By the time I got there, I was absolutely knackered, and secretly hoped someone would give me a lift in their car as they saw me trudging through the streets of Queensway, or that someone would let me have their bicycle out of pity. It was at this point I heard a slow march behind me. I thought to myself, 'who on earth would be marching in this scorching heat?' Then I turned, and it was truly a magnificent sight. At least 50 soldiers were marching right behind me, all monotonously, step after step, putting my little preamble to shame. I asked one of them. 'are you guys Territorial Army, Royal Marines, or the Commandos?'

He answered in a very manly voice: '...no....we're the Cavalry!'

The cavalry!! I couldn't match them for physical strenth, no matter how much I tensed my shoulders. These guys were made of pure British beef, so I thought I would provide them with a comment on the act of marching, for reflection. I said, 'yes, it is indeed a fine thing, walking, isn't it? It is such an interesting endeavour, as humans, we even invent other ways in which to do it, like marching.' The soldier gave me a 'one more word and I'll thump the life out of you' look, and said, 'yeah, whatever you say.'; Charming, but then, we never associated any charm with the cavalry!

Going To The Hospital: I'm A Daddy!

Yesterday I had a very strange experience. I had to go to a distant hospital-The Royal National Throat, Nose, and Ear Hospital, to have a doctor look at my jaw, which was giving me a bit of pain. I was waiting patiently in the waiting area, and then this English, rather posh looking woman wheeled her cute little baby into the area. Immediately, the baby looked at me, and smiled. I smiled back, as you would. Naturally, I started making faces, and he smiled a bit. The woman said, 'hi, you alright? He's such a little terror!' in a joking way, and smiled. Strangely, she spoke as if she knew me. Bizaare? Seemed ordinary to me, most people feel they've known me for years after talking just five minutes with me. Meanwhile I was feeling a strange bond with the baby, even though I was sitting about 12 feet away. Then, it was her turn to go and see the doctor, so she started to pack her things away. I moved the chairs out of the way for the pram to be able to wheel out with ease, and gave the mother the baby's shoe which had fallen off. She said to me, 'thanks! ok, we have to go, nice meeting you.' Then, the baby said something which stopped my heart from beating for a few seconds: 'bye bye, Daddy.' The woman looked at me and smiled, just smiled. I was confused, and bewildered. When had I fathered a child who was now 1 years old? My memory was bad, but not THAT bad! I'd never slept with a woman, and yet, here was this immaculate conception! I couldn't breath. He said it again, 'bye bye, da-da.' Oh dear, now he was using alternatives! The woman just stood there and smiledd...was I the miraculousn daddy, or did she want me to be the father figure?! I still had my MA to complete, I didn't have time to be a part-time father to this child! I said, 'wow, when did that happen? I don't remember his birth!' She stands, just smiling, still. Then, 'da-da', again.

It was at this point she cut in, 'no Michael, he's not daddy...daddy is...at work, remember? Sorry, ok, nice meeting you, bye-bye again.' She was gone, and I thankfully, was not the father to the miracle child!

Aslom Does The Apprentice/Dragon's Den

I recently entered a competition through Queen Mary entitled, XING 2009. It was a competition for business students, but I thought it looked quite fun. Despite having no real 'business acumin', whatever on earth that means, I submitted an application. The next thing I know, I was selected to represent Queen Mary at the competition, held in Goldsmith's University. Donning a suit, I faced entered through its doors.

Strangely, I found that I was actually at an incredible advantage to the other members on my team. Their knowledge of business was 'bookish', and I had the advantage of having had real experience of the business world, as well as the very real world of teaching. I was bringing ideas to the table which they said had not at all entered their minds. The competition was based very much like an Apprentice task: we were asked to brand a drink, and present it to a panel of judges for their consideration. Our presentation would need to include a 3 year plan, a five eyar plan, a strategy on funding, what our aims and goals were, how we wished to advertise ourselves, as well as our target market. All very business-like, but I did not let that deter me. Jumping in head first, I began startegising with my team. We came up with the brand name, 'Frushee', an organic juice drink, which was a luxury item, aimed at the health-conscious city workers who could afford it. I decided not to be Project Manager-I did not want to dominate, and gave the task to one of the girls in our group. I saw though, that as the day passed, she was losing control of the task more and more, and even gave up at one point and said the pressure was too much. I did not want to lose, especially after everyone had worked so hard, and therefore stepped in. Taking control, I made sure we finished on time, and that I was the one presenting our ideas. This decision was made not because I believed I was the most business-minded. On the contrary, all the members on my team had more business knowledge than I could ever hope to attain. They could speak about budgets and margins while I look around, quite lost. I, however, had the bliss of ignorance of all this jargon. I knew our ideas, aims, goals and, most importantly, our business plan like the back of my hand by the end time of the presentation. As a teacher, I had also been trained how to project my voice, how to present ideas in a clear, concise, and coherent way which engages my audience (usually teenagers) and I would therefore have no problem in presenting a business plan to a group of mature adults.

Using all my presentational skills, my knowledge of the Apprentice and, most importantly, genuine flair, I presented our plan. I was, as is evident from the pictures, careful to look thoughtful and engaged when they spoke, while being enthusiastic and seeming sure of what I was taking about when I spoke to them. We got through the First Stage of Eliminations, and got through to the Semin-Finals. Presenting again, I presented our modified plan, and took us through to the final. In the end, we did not win, we came Third Place in a competition that took in about 20 teams across many London universities. We got a £50 cash prize. Not bad for an ignorant English teacher with no knowledge of business! I loved the sense of teamwork, as well as the business style of the competition. I was asked for my number and email by some of the judges at the end of the competition, who were stunned I had not completed a degree in business, and told me I was, in teaching, in the wrong trade!

Knowledge of business, I have not, but I do believe I have some business acumin. Iasked, jokingly, if I should go on the Apprentice. One of the judges, smiling, said. 'I'd watch you, it would be interesting to see how you fare.' Alan Sugar, here I come.