When children shared their feelings about stay-at-home learning, one child said, "Torture, it is torture." Most long for school as they knew it, yet many also talked about the positives of staying home.
Discouragement, fear, and "depression" as one child described are real at this time, and we have to keep coaching ourselves forward to acknowledge and work against these feelings. I'm also noting that people's lives are changing and believe this may have a lasting affect in ways challenging and, perhaps, positive too.
Discouragement
On my way home from a needed appointment, I saw so many people walking, and so many seemed anxious and worried. We have to find ways to lift ourselves and others from discouragement by staying in touch, engaging in positive activities, and looking ahead.
Fear
As the elderly read the obituary pages and see so many of similar age die, it is scary. In many cases, they have to face this situation alone. Also, as they read the newspaper, there are stories about some who don't regard their lives with respect. We have to help our elderly friends, relatives, and family members in ways that we can.
Depression
Some, for many reasons, are depressed during this situation--they don't see a way out.
How will I personally deal with this? First, I'll move ahead with the knowledge that I don't have all the answers or ability to help in all the ways I'd like to help, but I do have some capacity.
Family
I'll continue to stay in touch with family members in positive ways. I'll cook for them, spend time hiking and walking, play games, listen, and help out in ways that I can. Where family culture is strong, this is going well, and where family culture is less strong, that's not as easy. The lesson here is that it's integral to build a strong family culture--strong culture weathers storms and hard times like this.
Work
I have the opportunity to encourage, connect with, and support many, many students every day virtually. I'll continue that opportunity with as much positivity and skill as I can muster. I am thankful for this opportunity to contribute.
Environment
I am also using this time to develop more environmentally friendly life ways. This is positive too.
There are definitely losses right now. I can't focus on the losses too much--I have to simply accept what I can't change.
In some ways, we're staring ourselves in the face right now as this virus challenges life as we know it--as we look deeply at ourselves and our lifestyles, there's a call to make change and make better. I'll work to answer that call. Onward.
Discouragement, fear, and "depression" as one child described are real at this time, and we have to keep coaching ourselves forward to acknowledge and work against these feelings. I'm also noting that people's lives are changing and believe this may have a lasting affect in ways challenging and, perhaps, positive too.
Discouragement
On my way home from a needed appointment, I saw so many people walking, and so many seemed anxious and worried. We have to find ways to lift ourselves and others from discouragement by staying in touch, engaging in positive activities, and looking ahead.
Fear
As the elderly read the obituary pages and see so many of similar age die, it is scary. In many cases, they have to face this situation alone. Also, as they read the newspaper, there are stories about some who don't regard their lives with respect. We have to help our elderly friends, relatives, and family members in ways that we can.
Depression
Some, for many reasons, are depressed during this situation--they don't see a way out.
How will I personally deal with this? First, I'll move ahead with the knowledge that I don't have all the answers or ability to help in all the ways I'd like to help, but I do have some capacity.
Family
I'll continue to stay in touch with family members in positive ways. I'll cook for them, spend time hiking and walking, play games, listen, and help out in ways that I can. Where family culture is strong, this is going well, and where family culture is less strong, that's not as easy. The lesson here is that it's integral to build a strong family culture--strong culture weathers storms and hard times like this.
Work
I have the opportunity to encourage, connect with, and support many, many students every day virtually. I'll continue that opportunity with as much positivity and skill as I can muster. I am thankful for this opportunity to contribute.
Environment
I am also using this time to develop more environmentally friendly life ways. This is positive too.
There are definitely losses right now. I can't focus on the losses too much--I have to simply accept what I can't change.
In some ways, we're staring ourselves in the face right now as this virus challenges life as we know it--as we look deeply at ourselves and our lifestyles, there's a call to make change and make better. I'll work to answer that call. Onward.