And here are a few things that bring me joy offline … because some days those things are even more important than the work things.

1. Creating bouquets out of $4 Trader Joes flowers
2. Watching my unathletic dog attempt to catch tennis balls at the park
3. Winging it in the kitchen (Cooking a fancy dinner without referencing a recipe)
4. Reading a paperback next to an open window – or non-book reads like Adam Lucas and Lyndsay Rush
5. Oil painting and inadvertently ruining all clothing I have on

As I was about to graduate college, I (trying to be vulnerable) told my dad how one of the weirdest feelings was that I “finished learning.” He laughed.

Of course, I’ve realized we never stop learning (which is really exciting and fun and all that). In fact, I’ve learned a hell of a lot more in the past few years since graduation than I did sitting in any lecture. Aside from gained skills through hands-on work, here are a few things I am consciously working to learn more about outside of work:

1. Golf. It’s not going well but the outfits are cute and I like being outside.
2. AI / ML. I am taking online classes to learn about artificial intelligence in order to combat my fear of artificial intelligence.
3. Baking. (See above note about cooking… Baking is more of science and “winging it” doesn’t work as well with cookies.)