What things give you energy?
By the end of the day, my cup is empty.
Operations and planning drain it.
Workplace conflicts drain it.
And even the conversations with students—
so often good and worthwhile—
can drain it too.
Because alongside the laughter and energy,
there are stories of mental health struggles.
There are hurts no one should have to carry.
There are wrong turns that need correction,
moments of truth that ask me to help someone grow.
These are good, but they pour out a heavy measure.
By evening, the cup is dry.
Yet each morning, it fills again.
- Sleep is the first refill. A good night’s rest, early to bed, gives me back the base.
- Solitude steadies the stream—feeding the animals, a quiet breakfast, the world still hushed.
- Writing stirs the waters. An hour with words, reflection and creativity flowing in.
- Walking the dog tops it off. Birds in chorus, campus washed in morning light, other walkers nodding, tails wagging.
By then, the cup is brimming once more,
ready to be poured out again
for whatever the day will bring.
The Afterword 
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