Blogging the Blahs

I've been having a hard time focusing lately. Part of it could be that time of the semester. Part of it could be the season's changing. Part of it could be how much energy I am exerting into teaching.

But I am sharing it, in part, because I think that while it is important to share our successes, our questions, our highs and our lows, it is also important to share our blahs. Our moments that we don't think are worth sharing. Because sometimes...frankly...I am not productive. Sometimes I want to curl up and go back to bed. Sometimes I want to drink tea and read. Sometimes I want to go play.

Two thoughts about the Blahs:
1. It's ok. I do pretty amazing work on a regular basis. And I have some pretty incredible opportunities at my finger tips. What I am saying is that I am not reading too much into it. I am not necessarily feeling the Blahs because I am not challenged at work or not interested in the work I am doing. Sometimes, it just happens. It would be something worrisome if it happened a lot or for a long stretch. But if you are experiencing the Blahs too, it's ok. We don't need to beat ourselves up about it. We don't need to guilt ourselves over having a Blah day. What's most important is that we share how we are doing and not read too much into it.

2. This is me blogging the whole me. When I met David Silver four years ago, I never would have guessed that such a little phrase as "blog the whole you" would have such a lasting effect. But it has. It is a rule of blogging for me. So blogging the Blahs is just as important as Blogging the Awesomes or Blogging the Challenges or Blogging the Solutions.

Sometimes blogging is an intimidating task because it feels like I should only be blogging about "real" things. But having the Blahs is real. And sometimes sharing it, letting it out, venting can be cathartic and just what I need to get past it. To put some zip back into my step. To return to being the Sheck.

And don't get me wrong....venting is not the only way I am dealing with the Blahs. I am looking back at projects that are on the side lines to seek "Inspirado". I am talking to co-workers, like Andy. I am attending fun stuff like tomorrow's Chili CookOff at the Library. I am also taking inspiration from fellow bloggers, like Bobbi Newman who wrote a really authentic, honest post about making a mistake. Hats off to her for blogging her whole self! And for inspiring me to do the same.

So that's my post for today. That's how I am feeling. How about you?

Information Literacy Month?

Oh yes, people. October is Information Literacy Month according to the White House. How awesome that this coincides with the IL teaching load at work.

There might be some grumbling about this out in the Blog- or Twittersphere. But when you take a moment to think about it, what does this proclamation really mean? It recognizes that information is not power alone. It recognizes that information is necessary but not necessarily. It recognizes that information alone is not enough. That critical thinking about information is central to an information society.

And that librarians have an important role to play. Our role may be changing, as is the role of information. My awesome co-worker, Andy Burkhardt, is blogging that these days. But we have a role to play.

The real question is what role that is going to be?

What are you going to do?

Come on. Tell me.