tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post4452363009297009407..comments2024-03-27T05:00:00.090-04:00Comments on Letters to a Young Librarian: Living in My Discomfort: A Response to the Library LoonJessica Olinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00282500023825318766noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-64730133928525838172014-11-25T13:39:01.477-05:002014-11-25T13:39:01.477-05:00Great post! I think discomfort and cognitive disso...Great post! I think discomfort and cognitive dissonance are good things because they (hopefully) spur us to be better. I've felt (and written about) very similar discomfort when people say nice things about me and my blog. It has helped me to remember that we all admire someone, and that person is likely just as much a messy jumble of attributes and flaws as we are. I think we should allow ourselves to feel good when people say those things, but also it's good that we feel that discomfort too. I think it would be a problem if we didn't. <br /><br />Receiving praise also reminds me of my privilege and the responsibility I feel to do good and be good. It makes me feel compelled to contribute to the profession in positive ways that support new librarians. I feel frustrated that so many people *doing* amazing and courageous things (rather than writing stuff) are not getting the recognition they deserve. But that's a good reminder that we should use our privileged position to recognize and celebrate those people. It's something I've been wanting to do more on my blog.<br />Meredith Farkashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11613744045285136964noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4061870849031468581.post-69210312949320134152014-11-25T11:02:43.378-05:002014-11-25T11:02:43.378-05:00Jessica – I cannot tell you how much good it did m...Jessica – I cannot tell you how much good it did me to read this post.<br /><br />You talk about living in your discomfort, I lean into it, either way you see it or do it, growth happens. As you know, I am new to academic librarianship after years of a successful career as a school librarian. Inadequacy is a constant state for me, which surprises those who know me. A few years ago, after I stepped down as leader of my state library association, I had someone tell me (as I literally walked off the podium) that I made it look too easy. It was NOT easy.<br /><br />Yes, it is flattering to receive praise or be admired, but very few (if any) are aware of the internal struggles over mistakes. I’ve made plenty of them and some have been hard to dust off. You get stomach aches, I lose sleep. Yet it is what drives me to be better and do better. So inadequacy is not necessarily a bad thing as long as we confront it with honesty and apply it to a greater purpose.<br /><br />I’m with you and The Loon…it’s time to have the conversation, I need it as much as anyone else. <br />Serial Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05462475670027853810noreply@blogger.com