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Oh to be out on the open ocean. For now, or at least until I graduate, I’ll have to be satisfied with dreaming of being out in the open ocean again and sailing the seas.

I’ve always heard that phrase, “hold fast, stay true” and wondered what it really means and how the saying started.

From what I could find, the saying started with sailors as they fight through stormy seas. Holding fast is literally holding on through the rough waves of the high seas during a storm. Hold tight! Calling out “stay true” during the storm was to remind the sailors to stay the course and to stay true to the direction they were headed, even if the darkness made it impossible to see the stars.

I’ll have to admit that quitting, or if I can use a more pleasant word, withdrawing, is something I’ve been thinking a lot about lately. The analysis of the data and the writing of the thesis is hard. I expected it to be hard. Why am I struggling against the wave and focusing on how hard it is instead of reminding myself that I knew it was going to be hard? Taking a significant time in my life to be a research student has always been a dream of mine. I am living the dream. 

Hold fast. Hold tight to those who care about me. Amplify their voices of encouragement. Stay true to the course. The light at the end of the tunnel is there. The stars are shining behind all the storm clouds. 

I find an extra dose of inspiration in seeing all the graduates attending commencement ceremonies this week! One day, it’ll be me in Bonython Hall, commencing on life post- #PhDLife

PS: For any of the HDRs reading this, if you need a bit of a break or a reminder to let you know that you aren’t alone in your research struggle, I’ve found tweets through these hashtags that are very comforting and validating. 

#AcademicTwitter #AcademicChatter #PhDLife #PhDchat #ECR #AcademicMentalHealth #PhDvoice #AcademicWriting

PPS: For additional support, the uni offers Counselling services and you can find more information here.