Things Don't Always Go According to Plan
Welcome to the Weekly Edition
Well, I joked last week about always getting sick during my break, and that was a bad idea. I've had a rough cold for the last few days and I'm just starting to get on the mend. I started getting sick right as the rain rolled in, and ended up missing the few sunny days we had while I recovered. I wasn't able to work on my parents' garden for the Part 2 I promised, or finish my class syllabi, which I'm now wrapping up this weekend.
So this week’s newsletter is a shorter one, with just a For Students section and a brief Thought of the Week. But next week, I will have that Part 2. I’ll get out to my parents’ yard, take some photos, and share everything with you then.
Small YouTube update: last week I posted about my new video being delayed due to a scratchy throat. That video is basically done, minus the voiceover. As soon as my voice is back, I’ll record and get it out. I’m hoping to release it by Friday.
For Students: First Week of Spring Semester
The first week of spring semester starts this week! If you're a new student who wants to join, please show up on the first day of class - I'll have registration cards ready to go. If you'd like to sign up for an online class, head over to growingwithprofessorbrown.com/classes, where you'll find instructions for signing up. This page will also be updated with each class syllabus once they're complete. They might not be up Sunday morning when the newsletter goes out, but they will be posted by Tuesday before my first class of the semester.
In all classes, this week will be an introduction. As usual, we'll take a look at what to expect over the next four months, including new topics and field trips. I'll take some time to introduce myself, and I'll give all of you lovely students some time to introduce yourselves to your classmates.
This semester I'll be teaching Regenerative Gardening, Fundamentals of Sustainability, and my special yearly Regenerative Gardening course at the California Conservation Corps. So if any of the new CCC students check out the newsletter later this week - welcome! I hope we have a great semester together in the garden.
Unfortunately, several classes have low enrollment and are at risk of being cancelled. The following classes will be cancelled if we don't reach minimum enrollment:
Regenerative Gardening — Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. (Palomares Community Center)
Fundamentals of Sustainability — Wednesday at 3:00 p.m. (San Dimas Senior Citizen Center)
Fundamentals of Sustainability — Friday at 3:30 p.m. (Online)
If you're interested in enrolling in any of these classes, or know someone who might be, please contact me as soon as possible so we can keep these classes open.
Thought of the Week: Things Don't Always Go According to Plan
I've been having a hard time this week with my cold. The cold itself isn't the hard part - it's the inability to work on the things I know I need to get done. When moments like this happen, it causes a pileup in my already busy life. That can become overwhelming very quickly.
But I have to remember that things don't always go according to plan.
When an illness - or something else outside my control - prevents me from getting things done, I just have to take a deep breath and remind myself that this is how life goes sometimes. Things don't always go according to plan. And that's okay.
So when life throws you a curveball, or things aren't going your way, try not to let it consume you. Sometimes you have to know when to fight the current and when to relax and let it carry you. We don't always get to pick.
I'm very fortunate that I only had a cold, and that my schedule is just being pushed back a few days. I know many of you have gone through much bigger, life-altering shifts. I have students who have dealt with cancer and other serious illnesses. I think it's important for us to learn how to handle smaller setbacks in a healthy way, so that if we ever encounter major hurdles like that, we've already built those mental pathways to help guide us through more difficult times.
I'm looking forward to returning next week with a much more robust newsletter. Thank you all for your kindness and understanding with me this week.
