On day 2 of my workshop in Writing, the most experienced participant did not show up (she’d been bright and early on Day 1 you know). Half an hour later – still no Ms. Professional. Hmmmm …….. maybe she’d had enough on the first day? But no, there we were, giggling in the midst of a raucous ball throwing activity (mind what you’re thinking now – we were actually reviewing information, so there!) when she walks in looking rather casually dressed, but sportingly jumped right into the activity anyway. We were having FUN and she wasn’t going to miss any of it!
I’d spotted her as someone who had vast experience with writing a wide range of office correspondence – her grammar and syntax were fine. So, WHY was she a part of the course? In her words, it was about improving the tone of her writing. Happens to all of us I’m afraid. Start looking at a sheet of paper or a screen, and somehow the writing tends to become stilted instead of natural. But I’d run her through an exercise on Day 1 that had her squealing with delight at the new her in written form, so, that’s why I wondered if she’d had enough; mission accomplished, ‘no need for more classwork’ sort of decision.
After the ball throwing / info review, she starkly yet smilingly announced to the rest of us “I had overslept” Huh? Someone as ‘together’ as she was could oversleep? HOW on earth had that happened?!!!
You know, at the start of each workshop I always ask the class to switch their phones to ‘silent’ mode, and that is of course what she had done. But she’d forgotten to revert to sound mode, and had not heard her alarm ha ha ha oops! That is something that could have happened to anyone of us, really. “I was wondering why I had not received any calls” she laughingly announced to us, making it a hilarious episode instead of an awkward one. She had woken late and obviously jumped into her clothes and car and sped to join us asap, peak hour traffic and all. Wonderful attitude!
You know, it was SO heartwarming to see the transformation from the reserved pro of day 1 to the still-professional- but-light-hearted person of day 2. She was a real source of encouragement to us all. In her new-found candour, she told us that she had begun with several reservations which had melted away along with the practical activities. And she had got exactly what she had wanted and was delighted. The transformation in her was a joy to behold! Talk about taking things in one’s stride? She truly was a REAL professional, with a great sense of humour to boot!
Hey, is YOUR phone still on silent mode?
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