I’m coming to the point in my year when things really start to get crazy. I’ve got in the neighborhood of six or seven talks coming up in the next seven weeks. I have a book chapter on librarians and library services being embedded into online courseware due at the end of this month for an ACRL book on the future of the reference desk. I am also developing a four-week-long online course on social software for InfoPeople. The exact title of the course is Web 2.0: Connecting with the Community Using Social Software and it’s designed primarily for those who do (or are interested in) outreach, marketing and PR work. The course is totally free for librarians in California, which is something I’m really excited about. It’ll be fun to teach another class on social software and to get some experience on the instructor side of using online courseware (in this case, ANGEL).
So with all this stuff going on, I’m actually taking a vacation, which is probably the only thing keeping me sane at this point. On Wednesday, I’m leaving for a wonderful week in New Mexico, one day of which will be spent at the AISTI Conference in Santa Fe, which I’m speaking at. It seems like most of the folks speaking at this conference have PhD’s so it ought to be a bit different from most of the conferences I speak at. I plan to really unplug on this trip and will not be checking e-mail or answering my phone throughout. Heavenly!
The morning after we get back from New Mexico, I’m heading off to the Catskills for a few days with my parents and my brother. We’re going to be scattering my grandfather’s ashes. While he died in Florida, the Catskills was his favorite place in the world and the place he felt most at home. It’s where he deserves to have his rest and I’m happy to have the chance to honor someone who has meant so much to me and whom I still think about every day. Adam and I met just before my grandparents moved to Florida, so he never got to visit the Catskills with me. I’m really looking forward to showing him all the places that are special to me; that I’ve known and loved for as long as I can remember. It ought to be quite the trip down memory lane.
I’m finishing my trip up in Utica at the ACRL Eastern NY Conference, for which I’m the keynote speaker. The day after we get home is May 23 and my 30th birthday. I know my two friends who are turning 40 and 50 respectively this year have laughed at me, but I really do see this as a turning point in my life. I’ve always thought of my 20’s as the years that I can avoid being serious, can avoid exercise and can avoid thinking about having a family. I’m sure it’s different for everyone, but for me, I’ve always considered 30 to be this cut-off point where I need to get my priorities straight. I’ve started questioning the directions my life has taken and I’m not entirely happy with how unbalanced my life is. I realize that I can’t keep going the way I have been — with the constant projects, writing and speaking — and still be happy and healthy. It’s so hard to say no to amazing experiences and honors, but I’m going to have to learn how in order to have anything that looks remotely like a life. People ask me how I can do all the things I do and the truth is that I’ve almost entirely given up “time outside of work” for my career over the past 18 months. It’s something I wouldn’t recommend for anyone.
I can’t complain about where I am at (almost) thirty. I’ve written a book. I’ve spoken at conferences all over the place. I own a home. I have the best husband in the world. I have amazing friends. I’m part of a profession I love. I’m really an incredibly lucky person. But I think there comes a point in all of our lives where the balance between work and family/friends/health becomes really messed up and we have to make some changes. I was inspired by what Greg Schwartz wrote about finding that balance himself six months ago and realized that I would likely have to do the same soon. It may involve making difficult decisions but, for me, that’s what being 30 is all about.
For my friends… don’t worry about me getting too serious. I promise never to stop putting ponies with monocles in my talks and will wear a Halloween costume at Internet Librarian (which falls on October 31st). While being 30 means a shift in priorities for me, one of the things I want to make an even bigger priority is having fun. Life’s too short to be working all the time. 🙂
I wish I could have any of the good stuff. I’m not that fortunate. Not today. Likely not in my lifetime. And I’m 25 (wanting to be at least 40).
Julian, believe me, when I turned 25, I didn’t have any of these things and didn’t think I ever would. I didn’t even really have a sense of direction in my life. Just goes to show that you never know where life’s going to take you and that things can change REALLY fast. 🙂
Julian – I’m almost 40 and still don’t know what I want to do when I grow up. Gotta agree with Meredith that you never really know what opportunities are going to arise and when. I had no idea or plan for any of the things I’ve been lucky enough to do recently. So you never know what’s going to happen. Just have fun in whatever situation you find yourself in.
Bravo. Turning 30 for me sucked (long story), but I’m sure you will love it. Hallie tells everyone in the world how old I am (they don’t even have to ask and she blurts it out).
Here’s to priorities and knowing what’s truly important in life. For me, it’s being surrounded by friends and family. I could give up everything I’ve accomplished in my career in an instant, but my life wouldn’t be worth living if I didn’t have Barbie, Hallie, Ari, my friends and extended family.
Good for you for creating balance. For me, it doesn’t just mean unplugging, but who you unplug for that matters.
Love,
Your friend Steven, who will not be dressing up at Internet Librarian. 😉
You remind me that it was my 30th birthday that led me to go to library school in the first place (even though I didn’t start until almost 30.5). This past March found me at 40. Still trying to find the balance, but with a lot more of the good things than I had 10 years ago.
I am with Steven. It is what/who you unplug for that really matters. I think there is a lot of this reconsideration of priorities going around. I am not sure if it is because of our age or the amount of work piled on us.
First off, it’s exciting to see my good friend Greg Schwartz mentioned in your blog today.
Secondly, being almost thirty myself and working hard to make headway in our field, it is reassuring to know that someone else struggles to find balance, especially someone else who lives in the heaven of Vermont (but is married to a Catskill man and knows how wonderful those rolling mountains are too).
Safe travels and best of luck in the hard hard work of knowing when enough work is enough. Life is for LIVIN.
Meredith, 30 was my hardest birthday. I had that same sense that it was a turning point for me, too. There have been a lot of bends and twists in the road for me as I moved past 40, 50 and now heading toward 55 (where did the time go?) I have such clear memories of my 30th. 50 was my favorite, though, because I married the love of my life two years earlier, and we celebrated in San Francisco. You wrote such a lovely tribute to your grandfather that I really had an appreciation for the man he was, and the reasons you loved him so dearly. My husband Michael died suddenly of a heart attack on February 1, and there will be a time when I’ll be scattering his ashes in Rondeau Provincial Park in Ontario. It’s bittersweet, isn’t it? You think you know how much you love someone, but you don’t really know, until they’re gone. Best wishes for a happy, relaxing 30 birthday!
I turned 30 last year, and while two weeks after my birthday a whole bunch of my plans exploded, a couple of weeks after that I got offered the job I have now in Wyoming, so it turned out to be an excellent thing. And Julian, I was miserable when I was 25, too (and for most of my 20s, actually). I don’t have all the accomplishments that Meredith does, but I have most of the ones I want–and, more importantly, I’m happy. Life, as they say, does turn on a dime. Yours will, too.
Hi Meredith. The Web 2.0 course sounds very exciting. The registration page indicates no cost. You say it’s gratis for California folks. Is there a charge for others? Thanks.
Hi Mike. I think, though I’m not 100% sure, that the InfoPeople classes are only open to California residents (at least that’s what it seems to indicate from the general information page on that site).
Mary, thank you for your touching comment. We are lucky to have the people we love in our lives, for however brief a time. I am so sorry for your loss.
Cool post. I am happy that you are taking some time for yourself. Balance is important. I tell people that I really like work, but I love my family and friends! I am not going to make it to AISTI, but my colleagues Johann, Cathy and Christy will be there. I will ask them to say hello. Your blog is my fave, so I am kind of bummed that I am missing your talk; but i will be sending you good thoughts from ABQ. Have fun! And try both Red and Green…
A very happy birthday Meredith. For me turning 30 was harder than turning 40 as it turns out. I felt I had been far too serious in my 20s and perhaps had missed the boat on having fun. It turns out that my 30s were a blast, and my 40s (so far–they are still young) have been extremely fulfilling. You have accomplished a lot already and can be very proud of where you are. And I still wear a costume to work on Hallowe’en, too. In fact, I get everyone I can to do the same– see my Hallowe’en 2006
Hope the 30th was a good day! A good time to re-evaluate and re-focus. You’ve done so much in such a short time, very smart to step back and figure out what’s next. Just to add to the other comments, my 30’s (and 40’s) were a blast too. Too bad they all flew by in a blur. But things just keep getting better. So keep on keepin’ on!