all of these spirit voices

[chemicalresult]

If you've never read Plaidder's Women On Fire series, the following is going to make much less sense to you. (But you should really go ask Plaidder for all 2000+ pages of her series, because it's THAT good.) I guess lovessong can nod her head sagely in response to my insight, but for the rest of you I'll try to explain without terrible spoilers or

Comments

[lovessong]

I think that is a very logical conclusion to make. And the comparison especially, is logical. Plaidder wrote the books while going through a doctoral program (in the humanities), and there are some very clear parallels between the process of becoming a shriia, and the process of getting a PhD.

I very much empathize with your struggles -- my own concerns loom large. Am I interested in doing a PhD just because I won't feel good enough about myself if I don't? Am I actually capable of being In Academia, with all that entails? My problem is that I'm not actually satisfied in the work I'm doing now, although I am good at it, and there are aspects of the job I like. But I miss the classroom and the intellectual stimulation and creative output too much.

I hope that you figure out what is the best and most satisfying thing for you on the long term! And hey, Aine's cool and all, but Theamh kicks serious ass -- there are worse people to be. :)