July 5, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This blog post is for assignment 1A (excerpt 1)<\/a> <\/a>in the CALS505 course<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cReady for an adventure?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n That phrase has become my tagline when picking up my nephews for babysitting. I figure going on an adventure is one of the most exciting things for a child, even if it\u2019s just to a local park. I remember how much I liked going on adventures as a child, and I want to continue cultivating that love for the outdoors with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n My tagline came to mind as I\u2019ve been reflecting on my values. In Dare to Lead, <\/em>Bren\u00e9 Brown provides a list of over a hundred values and invites her readers to choose two values they hold most important (2018, p. 188). The two values I ultimately chose were adventure <\/em>and integrity.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n It was cathartic to summarize central aspects of my personality and worldview into two simple words. Yet even though these values feel \u2018right\u2019 to me, I began to wonder how they relate to my role as a climate leader. I even began to wonder whether these values were \u2018worthy\u2019 for the tough work of climate adaptation. On the one hand, integrity feels easy to justify: I respect integrity in my own leaders (such as politicians) and do my best to work with integrity. In a recent blog<\/a>, I shared that the leaders I see making the most change in their communities are ones that are trustworthy, reliable, steadfast, and sincere. To me, all these attributes demonstrate integrity-based leadership.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, adventure feels a little harder to justify. Do we really have time for adventures when there is so much work to do? In my downtime I enjoy exploring by canoe, by bike, or on foot. These adventures support my mental and physical health and provide a respite from the demands of climate work. Yet, I realized I value not only physical adventures, but working on projects in adventurous ways. I respect leaders that are willing to trust the process \u2013 and trust the people they work with \u2013 even if they don\u2019t know exactly how the process will end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With all that said, what are the potential drawbacks of these values? Or rather, what are some things I should be mindful of when embracing these values?<\/p>\n\n\n\n When it comes to integrity, it\u2019s important to remember that standards are not universal. What may be an act of integrity from my perspective may not be an act of integrity to someone else. For instance, Poitras Pratt and Gladue (2022) call for the scope of academic integrity to be redefined and renewed to include Indigenous perspectives such as wholism and interconnectedness. I need to remember that my understanding of integrity is wrapped up in my colonial worldview and personal history. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Similarly, I need to recognize that my zeal for adventure comes from a place of privilege. I have a safe place to sleep, a steady supply of food, a platform for my voice, and the ability to vote. If I do experience a climate disaster, I will most likely have the means and resources to adapt. I seek out adventures because my daily experiences don\u2019t force <\/em>me to be adventurous. Although \u201cready for an adventure?\u201d is something that I ask out of joy, I need to remember that for many, daily life is a scary adventure already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n References<\/p>\n\n\n\n