Being present in spite of in the midst of whirling
Being present in spite of in the midst of whirling
Never underestimate the value of staring into space.
- Rebecca Schellenberg
I remember a story about a young man who cast his fish line into the river without baiting the hook. He didn't want to catch fish, but "fishing" provided him a respectable way to sit and think. Taking uninterrupted time to sit and let your mind wander is another way to support creativity.
For some of us, walking, cycling, swimming or other movement provides time for reflection. More than once I've come up with titles for papers and reports or had other insights about my research while running. You may have had similar experiences, but these examples are included as a reminder that reflection can be supported in a variety of ways and as an encouragement to make time for, and to value, those spaces in our lives.
Research in practice journeys are easier if taken in the company of others, in addition to those who participate in your research. Research companions can celebrate our milestones, support us when the road gets rough, and contribute to our reflective and creative processes through discussion, dialogue and reflection. Here are some ways to plan for companions.
Support group. In the Moving Research about Addressing the Impacts of Violence and Learning into Practice project (Battell et al., 2008), the researchers formed support groups related to their projects. They asked friends and colleagues and sometimes strangers they had heard about to join them, and consulted them when they needed help to get started, to keep going and to prepare for workshops. They asked for feedback on their plans and writing, suggestions for questionnaires and interview questions and wisdom about the specifics of research. In some cases, the support group members brought their perspectives as people of colour or parents, or as specialists in the field of art or movement that was being studied (Evelyn Battell, personal communication, November 2007).