Typically at this time of year, I would be doing a lot of traveling--traveling to pick up my son from college, traveling to celebrate Father's Day, or traveling to visit a beach, go out to dinner, and explore quaint towns and wonderful cities. Instead, I've been mostly at home teaching online, reading books, writing, tending my garden, playing online Scrabble, talking via the phone and video with friends and relatives, and lots and lots of cooking. Fortunately a theme for the past many years has been to create a warm and welcoming home, and that theme has paid off during this time since our home is comfortable, bright, and surrounded by wonderful natural beauty and good neighbors.
Now as I think ahead and the patterns that have been challenged, I need to think anew about what I've learned and where I'm headed.
We need each other
Clearly we can't do this on our own. We absolutely need each other at this time. We need each other for inspiration, empathy, direction, and support. The best ways that we can support one another are to make time to listen and help when we can, and also not be afraid to reach out for help and support when we need it.
To survive this change and perhaps even benefit from it, we have to create new patterns. Some highlights for me have been adding a nightly game(s) of online Scrabble--I love the challenge that game presents and find it to be purely relaxing after a long day of remote teaching and learning. I've also returned to reading fiction after a long hiatus--my life was simply too full to integrate stories of far off places, fantasy, relationships, and more. Yet, this time at home has simplified my life and opened the door to read fiction again. I just adored the book, A Long Petal of the Sea, which brought me on a journey via the lives of wonderful characters beginning with the Spanish Civil War and ending in more modern times in Chile. My next read will travel me through a similar time period in Korea which I am eager to experience.
I've been trying out tools in my kitchen and recipes that I never had time to try out. We're eating well and making almost all our food from scratch. From sushi, to pizza, to Indian and Thai dishes, and lots of vegetarian fair, I'm learning a lot about good cooking which has brought our whole family pleasure.
Teaching online has made me think deeply about my students and how to best support them. I have also spent a lot of time thinking about the parent-student-teacher team and how we can continue to elevate that collaboration for meaningful, engaging, and empowering education. I'm learning about lots of new tools too and will likely read a lot and make revisions to curriculum units for the year ahead.
My closest social group is my extended family. Pattern changes here have found us gathering for picnics rather than dinners in the house. We've also had some wonderful long walks, good talks, virtual get togethers, and some shared household and yard projects. It is a simpler life, and I do like that.
Dreaming and Vision Setting
As I look ahead, I know what I want. I want to continue to foster a warm and welcoming home, strong and loving family ties, and positive professional work. I also want to find ways to contribute to the community around me and advocate for better ways to support all people in the United States and throughout the world. I hate the prejudice, violence, poverty, and pollution that exist. I know we can do better and I want to take part in efforts that move us in that direction.
To reach this vision, I need to take these goals seriously and actually schedule the work into my days because words without action are empty.
The pandemic has certainly challenged our patterns of living, they have called us to reflect and think anew. It is important that we all carve out meaningful ways to meet this challenge--ways that bring us satisfaction and value for ourselves, those we love, and those we share the planet with. Onward.