Poison oak blisters and teaching

I learned early in my career that I can teach and be in front of a group when I’m not feeling well or I’m sick.

The example that’s forever etched into my memory is when I was hired to teach a day-long seminar at UC Berkeley. And I just happened to have gnarly poison oak rashes on both of my legs—puss was literally oozing down them. I wore a long skirt and took frequent breaks to the bathroom down the hall so I could splash cold water on the blisters. It gave me short reprieves from the itching and the oozing. Yikes.

But it was fine, the students had no idea. When we’re doing what we’re meant to be doing in life, we can do it under any condition.

For whatever reason, just felt the urge to share that little story.