Weeding With My Mother – poem
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Back Into Teaching Writing
The schedule for a new student as his writing tutor is on the calendar. I’m excited to begin working with this young man, collaborating to help him become a better, more self-assured writer.
My passion for writing and teaching was ignited as a returned undergraduate at the University of Rhode Island; encouraged to read, write, and explore the magic of words by a beloved teacher Professor Nancy Potter. For two semesters Nancy animated the writings of William Faulkner in ways that brought the Southern storytelling tradition to life – visceral, tangible, palpable. I was hooked.
After earning my MFA from the Graduate Writing Program at Brown University, I was certified to teach at the college level. Once four of my poems were published in four literary journals, that affirmation verified I’d made the correct choice to go into writing instead of law.
Fast forward a few years – my resume was in the right place at the right time and I began my teaching career at the Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI) and Bryant University (then Bryant College). Again, I was hooked.
I relished the challenge of inspiring undergraduates to become better, more committed and excited writers and thinkers. Seeing the lights in their eyes, that “Ah-ha moment” when something clicked and they got it. It was contagious. If they learned as much about writing as I learned about teaching I did my job.
As a long-time independent, freelance writer, collaborting with clients was, again, a teaching situation – asking questions, clarifying intentions, focusing in on desired audiences, creating strategic articles, press releases, and all. I still love the process of communicating and creating.
It’s a joy to come back into teaching the challenges, process, and rewards of writing with this young man. I hope he’s as excitied as I am. Time will tell.
Reach out if I can help you become a better writer. My calendar has openings – either face-to-face or virtual via Zoom or Skype.
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The Radical Act of Living
We come into this world squealing, discolored, taking our first in-suck of air, and announcing “I’m here!” All else follows.
No one knows what their life will be.
As time passes and birthdays come and go, we begin to think: “When I grow up I want to be ________.”
Still, we do not know what our life will be.
More time passes. We’re expected to make certain choices. Take certain classes/apprenticeships. Narrowing the focus of our life/living.
Ready!
Set!
Go!
Some make choices that become their entire working life. Others somewhat “wander” – heading this way and that. No judgement in this. Neither way is better or worse – simply different. Each path has its own rewards and pitfalls.
Thing is – we don’t live in a vacuum. Other lives and living swirl around us, often influencing our thinking, ways of living, choices about working, taking a partner or not, etc.
Often, there comes a time when the wider world has an immediate impact on our life. For me, that time has been looming for the past several years.
To say that the past decade has been one of exhaltation and devastation would be a gross understatement. “It was the best of times and the worst of times.”
At this moment, there are leaders who spew hate, division, fear, chaos, and unending destructive narcissitic Executive Orders. The rule of law is all but dissolved and the promise of Democracy is shattered and scattered to the four winds. Smarmy minions do the bidding of this leader, either because they kissed the ring or in fear of reprisal, sucking up to apparent power like a drug.
Some may say my thoughts are radical. Some may believe I’m stepping too far out in all this. Others may say the opposite.
I say I’ve stepped back and watched enormous change over decades. I know the pendulum swings and the pendulum swings again. At this moment, there’s an existential threat that the pendulum has detached from the time piece and that that piece is being smashed almost beyond repair.
I’m a natural-born citizen of the United States of America. I’m a person of a certain age. I’ve seen leaders I loved and admired and leaders for which I have much less affection and respect. However, if I don’t take responsibilty for my given rights and the rights of others; to stand up and, with respect, voice my concerns – who am I? What am I worth as a member of this community you and I call America?
Is there some risk, some jeopardy in this – perhaps. Many who came before me took risks, stood up, spoke out, were detained, unjustly prosecuted, imprisoned, beaten, and died trying.
I live and work in a state whose motto is HOPE. I have hope and faith that this country will survive the ongoing strategies of distractions, red herrings being tossed around willy-nilly, causing constituents and countries to somewhat stagger with vertigo. I trust that enough good folks will continue to get into good trouble, hold true to the intentions of our founders, and keep up the good fight.
The radical art of living requires risk takers, reasoned and empathetic leaders, conscientious and concerned citizens who join hands, hearts, and efforts to act, to be watchful, to be the change we wish to see in our world.
Thank you for reading this far.
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My Sons
Stepping into this morning’s light, it’s the same as yesterday’s but not. My heart breaks open, knowing that, someday, I’ll have to go away. Tears of sorrow. Tears of joy. Who will come and comfort me? Who will come and comfort you after I go?
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Social Media Fanfare Winner…Ten Years Later
Social Media Fanfare Winner Shares Her Telework Tips
Social media has changed the way we interact with friends, family, and yes, even coworkers. As part of Telework Week 2012, Telework Exchange launched a Social Media Fanfare contest, to find the ultimate telework fan.
We sorted through hundreds of tweets, likes, posts, and tips on Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare to pick the top fan who actively posted on Telework Week’s social media platforms. Read more below about her telework experiences as well as some of her favorite things about teleworking. Congratulations to our Telework Week 2012 Ultimate Fan.
Jessan Dunn Otis
Teleworking isn’t anything new to our Telework Week Ultimate Fan, Jessan Dunn Otis. A teleworker since May 1996, Jessan finds she can accomplish more when working from home. Not only is she more productive, but telework allows her to spend more time with her family and friends while still being able to manage her work schedule.
An independent freelance writer, editor, consultant, and mentor who works in the Providence, Rhode Island area, Jessan says telework helps her be more accessible to her local, national and international clients since she can spend more time working, and less time commuting. “[I have] a very short commute (approximately 12-14 steps),” she says. Technology tools such as her laptop computer, phone, and voice-over-Internet Protocol services help her stay connected.
Jessan knows work/life balance is key when teleworking. She takes breaks from her work schedule to go for a walk, sit in the sun, run errands, and enjoy lunch every day with her husband. “Celebrating 2nd day of #TeleworkWeek by going 4 a well-earned walk. Enough ‘time on task’ 4 now. Join me? #PVD #RI pic.twitter.com/w6rgzYtf,” she tweeted during Telework Week.
But for this full-time teleworker, Telework Week is not a once-in-a-while thing. “Alas (for some), #TeleworkWeek comes to an end today. For those of us who’ve been teleworking a long time … #DanceOn…! Cheers!” she tweeted.
Jessan can be contacted at:
website|blog http://JessanDunnOtis-Writer.com
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/jesssandunnotis
Twitter: @JessanDunnOtis
P.S. Ten years later Jessan’s still teleworking, now referred to as remote working. This piece was slightly edited in October, 2022.
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DISSOLVE
As when you touch yourself for the first
time inside and out
Or when you have left without saying goodbye
for the last time and you do not know it yet
Like walking into a dark room where everything
is known and you are excited that
something alive and beautiful will brush
your face
Or I am the long tree whose branches
move gently wild from the wind
and leave marks on your face
that you will remember when you dream
and you will go back to stare for days
until your eyes ache
Like arms that nobody who has ever loved you
has had before or has held you more strong
than you will ever be held again
And you will weep because you know that
that is true.
(c) Jessan Dunn (DeCredico) Otis – 1985/1987 – CQ, California State Poetry Quarterly, Spring-Summer 1987, Volume 14, Number 1, p.11.
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The 5 Ws + HOW
Sit down and begin to pull together a business plan, mission statement, professional introductory email, business-related text messages, informative YouTube clip, making the choice for your business’ name; and you’re faced with three truths:
* writing isn’t as easy as it appears
* everything matters
* it’s not only what you think you want to say; but, to whom, what, where, when, why and how
While any of the aforementioned endeavors can employ many mediums – i.e. video, film, radio, TV and so on – it’s likely that, at some stage, writing is crucial to the process of creating your message. Brainstorming. Whiteboards. Drafting. Formulating. Editing. Proofreading. Final content.
With that in mind, recall the first time you were under deadline and staring at a blank piece of paper or that flashing indicator on an empty screen. Dwelling too long on that memory might cause cold sweats and elevated heart rate. However, recalling that visceral experience can, also, be today’s lesson.
What your body was telling you is that you’re invested in doing the work and hitting that target with your best shot.
To convey your message always takes planning and planning equals time – whether the amount of time is an hour, day, a week or, even, years.
Because you’re invested in doing the work and hitting that deadline with your best work, everything matters. Do not edit your ideas and impulses. Be fearless. Be ridiculous. Be silly. Be serious. Be thorough. Eventually, you’ll reduce your information to become the most accurate, clear, concise, creative and effective, according to your goals, intentions and audience.
Finally, the content of and medium for your message must take into consideration the 5 Ws + HOW.
* WHO – To whom are you conveying your message? Who’s your audience?
* WHAT – What do you want them to know or learn or feel or do?
* WHERE – In what context/where are they receiving your message?
* WHEN – When are they receiving your message?
* WHY – Why are they receiving your message?
* HOW – How do you want them to respond or what do you want them to do after receiving your message?
When you’ve answered the above questions, begin to refine and repeat until you hit your target. Remember, this process requires regular reviews, readjustments, refreshing, and repeating.
Good luck!
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“The more I think I know,…
“The more I think I know, the more I know what I don’t know.”
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Fear and hope in the time of a global pandemic
In these times of profound uncertainty, there’s an undercurrent of two parallel emotions.
The first emotion is fear: fear of catching and dying from COVID19; fear of not working; fear of homeschooling your children; fear of increased domestic violence; fear of sliding into suicide; and more.
The second emotion is hope: hope that you’re doing all you need to do not to succumb to the coronavirus; hope that your spouse, relative, friend, or acquaintance will survive this virus; hope that, when a vaccine is found, you’ll still have a job to go back to; hope that this tragic, global pandemic nightmare will end sooner rather than later.
Fears are stories we tell ourselves. Hope lives in the heart. Which one do you nurture?
Please, stay safe. Carry on.
~ Jessan
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Weeding With My Mother – poem
Weeding With My Mother
I learned to weed a garden
squatting next to my mother
Once I began to learn what was wanted
and what was unwanted
The rest was easy
Bend down
Get my hands dirty
Smell the earth
Look carefully
Make clean spaces
Talk softly.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Dedicated with Love and Memory to Helen Constance Smith Dunn ~ 1912-1980 / Until we meet again.
© Jessan Dunn Otis, June 30, 2018
Jessan Dunn Otis|Writer 