My Suzuki Superpowers

I loved every second of Dr. Wendy Suzuki's Closing Keynote at D2L's FUSION 2022 last month.?First, she connected her passion slightly/appropriately to the audience, and then we were taken on an exciting ride to learn "How To Harness The Power of Good Anxiety." ?(I'm probably not alone but) her message spoke to me directly and has taken my mind on many additional joy rides over the past [is it possible that was just only!?] two weeks.?Here's my favorite.

Can’t Sleep – Problem or Superpower?

• Do you toss and turn all night long?
• Is it keeping a loved one awake?
• Are they or you not getting enough sleep?
• Are you or they tired the next day?

If you answered yes to one or more of these questions, I have some more important questions for you:

• Is there legitimately something wrong with your pillow, mattress, blanket, bed, or other [better-sleeping] device?
• Are you sure you're not being spammed/influenced by the seemingly endless flood of media/ads/brainwashing focused on better sleep as the panacea for happiness?
• Is there something wrong with your life?
• Are you going to bed late enough?

Hold up there, … did you just say _late_ enough??Yes, let me explain, but first, quickly, one theory and one tip that's worked wonders for me:

Theory: Sleep ?= Happiness

Despite what we're being led to believe by paid advertising, it would surprise me greatly to learn that these products legitimately apply to more than a very small percentage of the population.?(Before you say it, even snake oil helped those who believed.)

Tip: Life Issues Preventing Sleep?

Take one moment to turn on the light and write it down (bedside journal or scrap paper), so that after you sleep more soundly, you can use some fresh energy to flip it into a smart goal or action item(s) when you wake up in the morning.

Late Enough?

My theory, w/ no scientific evidence other than my own personal experience, is:

Some people (or some of the time) don't require as much sleep as the recommended average for your age (REF Google "recommended sleep based on age").?And contrary to media and sleep experts – it's important (and possibly legally required) to note that I am by no means a health [or anything else] expert, so don't let me sway you blindly – perhaps you might be trying to get too much sleep for you.

So now, in the spirit of Suzuki, I have some more important questions for you:

• Are you making [appropriate for you] enough time for sleep?
• Are you leveraging power naps when helpful or needed?
• Are you listening to your body and practicing good sleep/wake balance?
• Are you maximizing your awake time? – Why, yes, Yes I AM! ??

My Five Key Suzuki Superpowers

1. I don't sleep "well" (see details above)
2. Exceptionally patient
3. [Until recently] Paralyzingly shy
4. Extraordinarily organized, with [now-a-days] a fair amount of flexibility built in by design
5. My [stupid/not-stupid and easy to remember] name

2. Patient

I'm one of the most patient people you will ever meet.?To be clear, this is a superpower I only started developing maybe 10-15 years ago.?Further, I feel that it has only been over the past 3-5 years of honing that I've found myself truly comfortable and effective with this skill.

When VHS Learning started as a grant funded project in 1996, we were the only supplemental online provider serving K-12 students nationwide*, and online learning was in its infancy. ?I couldn't be prouder of how VHS Learning has grown and matured well as a non-profit mission-based organization over the past – it's amazing each time I count it – 26 long but fast and productive years.

It has also been exciting and awe inspiring to see other great quality online learning options and organizations form and develop over the years, and it has especially been my pleasure to share and learn from our sister and brother organizations through Virtual Learning Leadership Alliance.

I myself have been working with (and for) VHS Learning for 24 years, and for the past 15+ years, I've been looking for community/collaboration/engagement tools that meet our thoughtful and imho more-than-reasonable criteria.*?I have also had a long time to think about why I believe online learning should be a PART of every learner's journey.*

The secret of patience is to do something else in the meantime (-Croft M. Pentz).?And I must say that I am continually amazed by how much we (VHS Learning and other quality online providers and educators) have accomplished since 1996!

Now, I'm not one to call wolf unless there's truly a wolf at the door.?The pandemic coupled with the negative media focused on emergency remote learning masked as "online learning" has me yelling my quiet little head off – HELP! Please, HELP!

3. Paralyzingly Shy

For many years, I've been referring to myself as "paralyzingly shy", and it's actually one of the primary reasons I have personally been attracted to online learning.*?With my new-found Suzuki-lens I now realize that: I've lived half my life listening, and thinking, and listening, and thinking, and listening, and… I've been mostly quiet and THINKING for a very long time.?I hope you won't mind if I share more about what I've been thinking, and if you do mind, I'm very happy to have the power of social media at my back so you can choose to ignore me if desired; I won't ever need to feel like I'm wasting your time (spoiler alert: this is one of the things I love about asynchronous online learning*).

4. Extraordinarily Organized

"You are the most organized person I have ever met."?Sometimes sarcasm [or my insecurities] have made me try to hide or back-burner this skill.?Other times, it is quickly followed by words to the effect of "and that's not a bad thing." (Thank you, Amy Ichmay!)

Some have even asked or encouraged me to share my skills in this area, before I had even recognized them as magical powers (forever grateful to you, Matt H!).

And from my forever supportive boss: You don't ever need to feel pressure to speak or present on behalf of VHS Learning; "you are the best" at other things, you get so much done, you are a pro with project management and cross team initiatives, and we are lucky to have you (a million thanks for your leadership and mentoring, Carol!).

And so, over the years, I have developed some helpful [to me] approaches for dealing with what I was convinced for half my life were memory issues, and I've learned from these 3-of-my-heroes that these tips and tricks may be useful to others.*

5. My Name

In case you haven't already asked me:

• No, it's not short for anything.
• Yes, all my life, and on my birth certificate.
• No, there's no story behind it (other than this one right here).

My name has been equal parts curse and blessing for the first half of my life.?Dr. Suzuki has brought to my mind that one of my most always-handy superpowers is name recognition, and I'll be happy to continue leveraging it as a power for good!

In Closing

I've also been told over the years (and only occasionally in a less than complimentary manner) that I have a gift for storytelling.?In fact, when my Short Story teacher in college told me that I should consider writing as a career, I remember telling him that it wouldn’t work well for a girl with the name Storie.?In hindsight, I'm glad he wasn't able to sway me exclusively in that direction.

I look forward to seeing what others think about my effort to use this power of storytelling to help improve the world [of blended and online learning].

p.s. Some of My Other Suzuki Superpowers

Ok, I've [almost] had enough fun for one day, and I apologize for talking/reading your eye off, but I feel obligated to share the remainder of my superpower thought starters for future reflection, "pasted" from my hard copy journal here:

I was also born w/ these superpowers:

• Frugally creative
• Truly 99% self-motivated
• I don't have a very "good" memory
• My [stupid/beautiful] mind refuses to travel on one track
• Mad multi-tasking skills, by way of multi-starter, sometimes finisher
• Sometimes [dorkily] clever
• Habitually inquisitive
• Love to read anything that includes lessons or thought starters

I learned these superpowers during the first half of my life:

• Love my job
• Lifelong learner
• I have [and share] an exorbitant amount of hope and faith
• I like to deep-clean on a [somewhat] regular basis
• I might be an expert at putting puzzles together
• Baking is my yoga = heart, soul, Zen, with a tasty sharable end-product
• I love good, wholesome, family-friendly fun
• I may (or may not) have found the fountain of youth

*p.s.s What's Up Next?

What would you like to hear more about??Each asterisk and "other" superpower listed above has a story behind it that is waiting to be shared.?Please consider voting for the one(s) that most interest you, and I'll/we'll prioritize to serve up your interests through future blog posts.?What's Up Next?