Taking Stock, Reflection, and Planning
November/December
Taking Stock, Reflection, and Planning
Peacebuilding and Conflict Resolution
NEWSLETTER
Dear Colleague:

It will soon by Thanksgiving in the U.S. which officially starts the countdown to the end of the year. For Americans, it means a lot of "hustle and bustle." Personal time is at a minimum with demands placed on us because of parties, shopping and religious and community obligations. But making the time to reflect and take stock of the past year are important activities in refocusing our work and personal lives. This permits us the opportunity to consider what new goals and changes we might make in 2019. Scribbling a few New Year's Resolutions the afternoon of December 31 might make you feel good, but it rarely is sustainable. I invite you now to take stock in the past year and consider the year to come. Give yourself an hour or two to "take pen to paper" (or keyboard to screen) in thinking about what accomplishments you achieved this past year. And consider how you might improve on these in 2019 and what additional goals you might set for yourself.

The photo is by my son Lorenzo who finished his Peace Corps service in October and is now traveling in southern Africa before returning to the U.S. It is of the sunset in Solitaire, Namibia: maybe a fitting metaphor for him and for us. As one sun sets, what will the new sun rise bring?

Hope you have a meaningful and reflective holiday season.

David J. Smith
November 15, 2018

PS: If you feel that you are receiving this newsletter in error, I apologize. You can "unsubscribe" using the button at the bottom of the page. 

Photo credit: Lorenzo Choudhary-Smith
Reflecting on 2018
Here are a few articles on reflecting and evaluating your past year.



How to Plan for 2019
Read some ideas on how to plan for the coming year



Recent Articles and Think Pieces
Here are a few pieces that I recently published as part of Forbes Coaches Council.




I continue to write for the Fulbright Edge. Take a look at my last few articles.

"Career Corner: Embrace the Transition," Fulbright Edge, October 2018

"Career Corner: Always Seek to Better Yourself," Fulbright Edge, September 2018

"Career Corner: Take a Break," Fulbright Edge, August 2018

Humanitarian and Peacebuilding Training
March 14-17, 2019, Garrett County, MD
The Forage Center will hold its next field simulation in  March 2019 in Swanton (Garrett County), Maryland. The dates are March 14-17. For more information contact Catherine Cousar. The site is a 2.5 hour drive west of Washington, DC, 3 hours west of Baltimore, 2 hours south of Pittsburgh, and 3.5 hours east of Columbus. If you fly, Pittsburgh is the closest airport. If you are ready to commit, an application be made here. The fee is $700 for students and $1,000 for professionals.
6th Annual National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar Held at George Mason University, November 1-4, 2018

The 6th Annual National Community College Peacebuilding Seminar was held at the School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University (GMU) November 1-4, 2018. The seminar included 18 educators from 9 colleges, and nearly 30 presenters sharing about peacebuilding. Click here to read about the program. The seminar will next be held in November 2019 at GMU.
Free USIP Courses Online

Maybe in 2019 you might commit to taking courses online. Click here to learn about FREE course offered by the U.S. Institute of Peace.
Grant Funding Opportunity

One goal in 2019 maybe to apply for a grant to support your work. If you are engaged in conflict resolution work, you might consider this grant offered through the Association for Conflict Resolution, Application deadline is January 14, 2019.
Career Coaching

Are you looking to make a career change in 2019 and looking at the international education, peacebuilding or conflict resolution fields? I am coaching younger and mid-career professionals who are looking to make a career change. 

Information Age Publishing has recently reduced the price of Peace Jobs to make it more affordable to students. It is now available for $33.99 . It can also be ordered in a  Kindle edition .  


“ What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us. ” 
          
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
David J. Smith Consulting | davidjsmith@davidjsmithconsulting.com| http://davidjsmithconsulting.com