I went back to work today. It doesn't even feel like I stopped working for the past two weeks because I've been writing about so may work-related topics. I also have continued working by sending virtual "check ins" to my students. Not all of them can access these due to limited computer access, but it is nice to hear from those that can access these forms. Nonetheless, the past two weeks really haven't felt like "time off."
My first back to work agenda item was to attend a virtual Zoom meeting with our school administration and my coworkers. It was nice to see everyone's faces! It was clear that we don't quite feel comfortable with this format yet, and everyone had some adjusting to do.
Next, we learned that we'd have to contact all of our families - we split up the students, and I ended up talking to 20 families over the course of 2 hours. It was nice to talk to people on the outside, but it was very tiring. It kind of felt like conferences - just the pace of talking and getting to the next thing. It was really a lot, but I felt like I acquired the necessary information I was asked to acquire.
And, here, I thought I might get a nap. No such luck. But, technically I'm still on the clock, and I can always find something to do.
This blog is an excellent example of how much mental energy I expend when I'm working. I don't have enough brain power to do my actual job, and then come up with something clever to write. I'm spent. Totally spent.
Back to the grind tomorrow...
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
March 30, 2020: Day 15 - Marco Polo
**Shameless Plug**
There's an app called Marco Polo. It's like Snapchat for old people. And, it's incredible. It's basically sustaining most of my days at this point. I am able to stay in contact with friends from all over the country through this silly face chatting app. I highly recommend everyone give it a try. I'm forever grateful to my friends that got me on it!
Here's what I've learned so far on Marco Polo:
1. It's really awkward getting used to looking at yourself talking.
2. It's really awkward getting used to hearing your own voice repeated back to you.
3. There are no angles/lighting in which you will look good on Marco Polo.
All of this is to say that it's incredible exposure therapy for getting comfortable with yourself. It's comforting to know that the people you're Marco Polo-ing with expect a response from you, so you'd better get over yourself and hit them back with your message. They'll love you no matter what - and that is a welcome confidence boost, especially when I haven't showered, my hair's a mess, and I haven't been out of pajama pants for three days straight.
Download Marco Polo and talk to all of your Earth-angel friends today! You might regret it - but it will be worth it! :)
There's an app called Marco Polo. It's like Snapchat for old people. And, it's incredible. It's basically sustaining most of my days at this point. I am able to stay in contact with friends from all over the country through this silly face chatting app. I highly recommend everyone give it a try. I'm forever grateful to my friends that got me on it!
Here's what I've learned so far on Marco Polo:
1. It's really awkward getting used to looking at yourself talking.
2. It's really awkward getting used to hearing your own voice repeated back to you.
3. There are no angles/lighting in which you will look good on Marco Polo.
All of this is to say that it's incredible exposure therapy for getting comfortable with yourself. It's comforting to know that the people you're Marco Polo-ing with expect a response from you, so you'd better get over yourself and hit them back with your message. They'll love you no matter what - and that is a welcome confidence boost, especially when I haven't showered, my hair's a mess, and I haven't been out of pajama pants for three days straight.
Download Marco Polo and talk to all of your Earth-angel friends today! You might regret it - but it will be worth it! :)
March 29, 2020: Day 14 - Playing with Poetry
Around this time of the year, my students and I spend a brief amount of time writing poetry. It's the one time in the year that they really get any exposure to prose and it's one of my favorites. The thing about poetry is that it demands to be felt and teenagers FEEL. They aren't always aware of all of their emotions, but they are so good at adequately pouring feelings out onto the page.
This year, I shamelessly stole an idea from a former high school ELA teacher had them write poems following a form of a fairly famous spoken word poet. The poem is called "My Honest Poem" and it's written and spoken by Rudy Francisco. Look him up, he's got some terrific stuff out there!
Their poems turned out amazing. I loved all of them. They made me laugh, they made me tear up, they made me wonder.
They had so many beautifully-written, relatable lines in their poems, that I decided to pull a line from each person's poem and created a "class poem." They turned out really cool. Here is one of the poems done in this style. I'm so sad I never got to share these with my students.
Teenage Honesty Poem (first edition)
This year, I shamelessly stole an idea from a former high school ELA teacher had them write poems following a form of a fairly famous spoken word poet. The poem is called "My Honest Poem" and it's written and spoken by Rudy Francisco. Look him up, he's got some terrific stuff out there!
Their poems turned out amazing. I loved all of them. They made me laugh, they made me tear up, they made me wonder.
They had so many beautifully-written, relatable lines in their poems, that I decided to pull a line from each person's poem and created a "class poem." They turned out really cool. Here is one of the poems done in this style. I'm so sad I never got to share these with my students.
Teenage Honesty Poem (first edition)
I know it sounds crazy, but I feel like everyone is judging me constantly.
I’m scared of change.
I have … an anger problem when I get mad , but... I don't like to argue
Sometimes I wonder what the dogs say about me.
Sometimes … I scare myself by thinking of the worst
I have an odd fascination with … wanting to jump out of a plane
I don’t know how to stop being awkward.
But I don’t allow myself to be afraid… on the outside.
I’ve never been to jail, but my thoughts are trapped behind bars inside my brain
Sometimes I wonder what my pillow would say about me.
I wonder what I would do if I was put in a life or death situation
I’m afraid if you see the real me you won’t like it
I’m stuck on this tiny iceberg, one wrong slip and it’s the end of what we call our friendship.
I’m still learning how not to argue with people
But I don’t allow myself to fail
I’ve never been truly heartbroken, but I know what it’s like to break myself to fit standards
I have … pure will
I’m still learning how …be a better person
I’m a sucker for hope.
Wow. Just reading it again brings a smile to my face. Teenagers: full of contradictions, fear, vulnerability. There is so much power in their words - and they don't even know it.
Sunday, March 29, 2020
March 28, 2020: Day 13 - Yes And...
I find the human brain fascinating. There are so many things our brains do, with and without us even thinking about it. It's an incredibly complex organ, performing multiple tasks every minute, every second, of every day. There is no shortage of absolutely phenomenal things our brains can do. But, one of the coolest things about this marvelous thinking organ is that it has the capacity to hold two opposing ideas in our minds...at once.
I've been thinking about this a lot, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. I see tons of posts everyday encouraging us to find the joys and blessings of every passing day sheltered in place, but I see every bit as many posts centered on the frustrations and inconveniences of this experience. Here's what I think. We can have both. We can do both. We can be both.
Our fantastical brains can allow us to both feel happy for increased time with our families at home, and also be a little overwhelmed that we have, in fact, so much time together, at home.
We can feel really anxious about having to go to the store and opening ourselves up to potential life-threatening germs, and also feel really appreciative that there's enough money in the bank to buy food from the market.
Some of us may feel anger towards our political leaders and local politicians, and still experience a sense of peace for the personal decisions we are making for ourselves and our families.
With modern technology, those of us who find ourselves more isolated than others have the opportunity to connect through various technological means. We can be distanced and social at the same time.
We can fear for the health care workers that are being sent to help people without proper gear and equipment, and still feel safe in the comfort of our own homes.
We can be disappointed about sports seasons, weddings, graduations and other events being cancelled, but we can also feel grateful for what we do have presently.
We can experience hope, and still feel like everything is falling apart - everywhere around us.
In our society, we spend so much time trying to make situations this or that. Democrat, Republican. Cats or dogs. Heroes or villains. Right or wrong. Black or white. Everything feels like an either or proposition. But, the reality is, the world is both a terrible and wonderful place. Good, and bad, things do happen here. We are surrounded by dualities in our complex, complicated lives, but we do not have to succumb to them.
To think we have to be one way or the other in such a singular fashion is a false choice. American writer, and novelist, F. Scott Fitzgerald, once said, "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." I find so much comfort there. We don't have to choose one way to be, think, or feel over another. Our brains have the capacity to choose "both." Do we?
I've been thinking about this a lot, in the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic. I see tons of posts everyday encouraging us to find the joys and blessings of every passing day sheltered in place, but I see every bit as many posts centered on the frustrations and inconveniences of this experience. Here's what I think. We can have both. We can do both. We can be both.
Our fantastical brains can allow us to both feel happy for increased time with our families at home, and also be a little overwhelmed that we have, in fact, so much time together, at home.
We can feel really anxious about having to go to the store and opening ourselves up to potential life-threatening germs, and also feel really appreciative that there's enough money in the bank to buy food from the market.
Some of us may feel anger towards our political leaders and local politicians, and still experience a sense of peace for the personal decisions we are making for ourselves and our families.
With modern technology, those of us who find ourselves more isolated than others have the opportunity to connect through various technological means. We can be distanced and social at the same time.
We can fear for the health care workers that are being sent to help people without proper gear and equipment, and still feel safe in the comfort of our own homes.
We can be disappointed about sports seasons, weddings, graduations and other events being cancelled, but we can also feel grateful for what we do have presently.
We can experience hope, and still feel like everything is falling apart - everywhere around us.
In our society, we spend so much time trying to make situations this or that. Democrat, Republican. Cats or dogs. Heroes or villains. Right or wrong. Black or white. Everything feels like an either or proposition. But, the reality is, the world is both a terrible and wonderful place. Good, and bad, things do happen here. We are surrounded by dualities in our complex, complicated lives, but we do not have to succumb to them.
To think we have to be one way or the other in such a singular fashion is a false choice. American writer, and novelist, F. Scott Fitzgerald, once said, "The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function." I find so much comfort there. We don't have to choose one way to be, think, or feel over another. Our brains have the capacity to choose "both." Do we?
Friday, March 27, 2020
March 27, 2020: Day 12 - Hilarious $#!t My Family Says Whilst Sheltered In Place
So - I don't know if everyone realizes this but there's but nothing on television except Coronavirus. It's a constant battering ram of news cycles. More reported cases. More deaths. More calamity. It's actually exhausting - with every new report, I have to actively work against feeling hopeless and stressed.
It's too much.
So earlier this week, while looking for a distraction from all things Coronavirus, a friend asked me if I had watched the Netflix docuseries "Tiger King." I hadn't even heard of it and instantly looked it up. I mean - it's not like I had anything else to do.
 |
| This is the proverbial boat we found ourselves in this week. |
My sister, mom, husband and I started watching that day - and I'm not kidding you...It. Is. Something. Else. A lot of people say there are a lot of tv shows and movies that are absolutely nuts, but this one - this one puts all the rest to shame. Nothing compares to this show.
And, we're only on Episode 4!
Not everyone in the house is digging the docuseries as much as I am. My wonderful, smart, brilliant, 82 year old mother has not entirely embraced the Tiger King. Here's a little glimpse of watching the show with Jean - which, I promise you, only adds more hilarity to the entire spectacle...
Episode 1: "These people. are. strange." (Heavy emphasis on strange.)
Episode 2: Silence (I assume she's shocked speechless by this point.)
Episode 3: She walked out.
Episode 4: "Oh, Lordy! The smartest things on this show are the tigers!" (She's not wrong.)
If you're watching, or have watched the Tiger King, you can understand these reactions perfectly. If you haven't watched, and are considering watching, please don't dare say I recommended it to you. I can't bear that kind of responsibility right now. But, if you do decide to watch...
March 26, 2020: Day 11 - Hope for Humanity
If you Google the question, "What does it mean to be human?" you will get over ten billion hits. Ten. Billion. Let me get this straight: humans, myself included, are turning toward an electronic platform to explain to us who we are? Have we lost our minds? What can the all-mighty internet tell us about ourselves that we don't already know? Two things are clear: 1.) We are obsessed with ourselves and 2.) We are not at all self-aware.
Quickly glancing through the billions of hits, there are voices of artists, scientists, philosophers, politicians, writers, religious leaders and a whole host of other keyboard crusaders spending great amounts of time, and thought, communicating their interpretations of what it means to be human. And, yet, each voice, each person, has their own definition of the human experience. Is that, in and of itself, what it means to be human? Why is it so difficult for us to understand our own human-ness?
We know we are human beings by virtue of just being born. But, we struggle with the concept of being human because humans are capable of a great many atrocities, as well as a great many achievements. These two factors taken together makes it confusing to determine who we are as a collective - as humanity. If there is one good thing to come of Coronavirus, maybe it's this: the true essence of our humanity.
Sometimes it's hard to see the good when we've been told to isolate ourselves from each other and stay in our homes. It's difficult to recognize each other's benevolence when we feel disconnected from our communities. It is an innate challenge to preserve our humanity, when so much of who we think we are is tied to our connections with others. But, we, as a people, are adapting to this situation and figuring out how to extend our true humanity - our mercy, our compassion, our understanding, our generosity and our love.
I see people I know sewing masks for our front-line health care workers.
I see educators volunteering to assist with childcare needs for our health care workers.
I see children designing pictures - with hopeful messages and symbols - to hang in their windows or post on street signs in their neighborhoods.
I see people stepping up to help out their literal neighbors, especially those that are aged or compromised in some way, in order to get them groceries and other goods.
I see restaurateurs opening their doors to students, who in the absence of school are without meals, to ensure that they have something to eat.
I see grocery stores protecting our elderly shoppers by providing them with specific hours to shop.
I see friends dropping off baked goods, and other favorite treats, on each other's doorsteps to help them get through their days.
I am hearing of church groups calling their parishioners to just check in and see how they're doing and if they need anything.
I see many of us are following state edicts and guidelines to shelter in place, in order to help protect those of us that are more vulnerable to this virus.
I see people hosting virtual happy hours with open invitations to prevent social isolation.
I see fitness instructors offering their workouts online - for free - to help keep people moving and healthy.
I see former students, and friends of mine, who are posting crisis line phone numbers to remind us all that help is a phone call, or a text, away.
These are all examples I am witnessing daily in my own little sphere of being. There are even more examples of people coming together from all over the globe.
A few of the more notable examples include the residents in Italy who sang together from their balconies, people in Spain, Italy, and Israel have been seen giving rounds of applause to healthcare workers arriving on the scene, and a Michelin-star winning chef in the UK has prepared food boxes for those in need.
And, possibly, the most hopeful aspect of all of these endeavors is that they seem to be contagious. It would appear that we are experiencing an epidemic of our humanity in the midst of a global pandemic. Even in the midst of tragedy, catastrophe, devastation, and unimaginable loss, we, humans are starting to remember those among us that are in vulnerable positions - the elderly, the compromised, and the young who are forced to shelter in place with abusers, to name a few. Our natural environment is improving. By the looks of it, humans are exhibiting their humanity.
I don't know what the definitive answer is on what it means to be human. But, it's evident that in times of crises, like the Coronavirus, a light is shone brightly on our humanity. Let the light continue to illuminate our collective goodness in the face of all that is dark, for that is where hope lives.
Quickly glancing through the billions of hits, there are voices of artists, scientists, philosophers, politicians, writers, religious leaders and a whole host of other keyboard crusaders spending great amounts of time, and thought, communicating their interpretations of what it means to be human. And, yet, each voice, each person, has their own definition of the human experience. Is that, in and of itself, what it means to be human? Why is it so difficult for us to understand our own human-ness?
We know we are human beings by virtue of just being born. But, we struggle with the concept of being human because humans are capable of a great many atrocities, as well as a great many achievements. These two factors taken together makes it confusing to determine who we are as a collective - as humanity. If there is one good thing to come of Coronavirus, maybe it's this: the true essence of our humanity.
Sometimes it's hard to see the good when we've been told to isolate ourselves from each other and stay in our homes. It's difficult to recognize each other's benevolence when we feel disconnected from our communities. It is an innate challenge to preserve our humanity, when so much of who we think we are is tied to our connections with others. But, we, as a people, are adapting to this situation and figuring out how to extend our true humanity - our mercy, our compassion, our understanding, our generosity and our love.
I see people I know sewing masks for our front-line health care workers.
I see educators volunteering to assist with childcare needs for our health care workers.
I see children designing pictures - with hopeful messages and symbols - to hang in their windows or post on street signs in their neighborhoods.
I see people stepping up to help out their literal neighbors, especially those that are aged or compromised in some way, in order to get them groceries and other goods.
I see restaurateurs opening their doors to students, who in the absence of school are without meals, to ensure that they have something to eat.
I see grocery stores protecting our elderly shoppers by providing them with specific hours to shop.
I see friends dropping off baked goods, and other favorite treats, on each other's doorsteps to help them get through their days.
I am hearing of church groups calling their parishioners to just check in and see how they're doing and if they need anything.
I see many of us are following state edicts and guidelines to shelter in place, in order to help protect those of us that are more vulnerable to this virus.
I see people hosting virtual happy hours with open invitations to prevent social isolation.
I see fitness instructors offering their workouts online - for free - to help keep people moving and healthy.
I see former students, and friends of mine, who are posting crisis line phone numbers to remind us all that help is a phone call, or a text, away.
These are all examples I am witnessing daily in my own little sphere of being. There are even more examples of people coming together from all over the globe.
A few of the more notable examples include the residents in Italy who sang together from their balconies, people in Spain, Italy, and Israel have been seen giving rounds of applause to healthcare workers arriving on the scene, and a Michelin-star winning chef in the UK has prepared food boxes for those in need.
And, possibly, the most hopeful aspect of all of these endeavors is that they seem to be contagious. It would appear that we are experiencing an epidemic of our humanity in the midst of a global pandemic. Even in the midst of tragedy, catastrophe, devastation, and unimaginable loss, we, humans are starting to remember those among us that are in vulnerable positions - the elderly, the compromised, and the young who are forced to shelter in place with abusers, to name a few. Our natural environment is improving. By the looks of it, humans are exhibiting their humanity.
I don't know what the definitive answer is on what it means to be human. But, it's evident that in times of crises, like the Coronavirus, a light is shone brightly on our humanity. Let the light continue to illuminate our collective goodness in the face of all that is dark, for that is where hope lives.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
March 25, 2020: Day 10 - The Magical World of Judy
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