I have been thinking about starting a blog for some time. And yes, I really am a doctor. No, not the medical kind. I faint at the sight of blood. It wouldn’t be a good idea. No, I have a Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) in Educational Sociology.
So, what got me to the point of actually starting a blog? I have ideas and opinions like everyone else. These ideas and opinions have been shaped by a caring family and an exciting and interesting life. My father was in the military, so I had the amazing benefit of experiencing a lot of varied cultures during my formative years. Each of these cultures had an impact on my worldview. My parents also encouraged me to be open with my thinking and not to be afraid of debate or varied opinion. Needless to say, election times are always interesting in my house… We’ll save that for later.
So why start a blog? I’m getting there, trust me.
I also have this thing for quotes, you know those inspirational quotes or quotes by famous people. I like to read and think about them. Every now and then I run across one that I print and frame or that I just can’t forget. I think this really had an impact on my desire to pursue a higher education. One quote has been with me since my undergraduate program. “Intelligence is not always knowing the answer, it is always asking the question,” (Maya Angelou). Dr. Angelou’s writings have always been an inspiration for me. I think this quote, along with encouragement from my parents, really pushed me to pursue my doctoral studies. It’s a quote that I share with my colleagues and students regularly. It epitomizes how I think.
Okay, but why a blog and why now? I’m almost there.
Recently, my mother shared a quote with me. She thinks it reflects who I am as a scholar as well. We were talking about my blog and she said, “Quit talking about it and just do it already. You have a lot of great ideas to share!” Thanks mom. Anyways, here is the quote she shared from Steve Jobs, and it will drive the context of my blog:
“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be tapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.”
So that’s why I started my blog now. I see and hear so many people take everything they see and hear in the news or the internet at face value. So many people quote others’ ideas and get stuck in group think – drowning out who they really are or could be. There are always two sides to every story – and the truth is usually somewhere in the middle. So, that’s the point of my blog. A chance for me to share my thoughts and my thinking about what I see and hear on my own journey of thought.
Doctor of Thought 