Recalculating 365

I know, I know, it's not even mid-March yet, but

I'm working ahead, so here's my April calendar.

And though affirmations don't need a calendar, self-talk

seemed like a timely topic as we March toward April.

Today truly marks the one-year anniversary of the press-pause for me;

I'd just returned from my final trip in an oddly emptied-out airport,

then the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was cancelled.

That was it. That's when I knew this was big.

So it has been a year now. And what a year it has been.

A year that invited us to recalculate over and over again, because we didn't have a roadmap for what was about to come our way. School buildings closed and didn't reopen again for months and, in some areas, a year as they are just now welcoming their students back face-to-face. In Texas, we opened back up around Labor Day and have stretched and flexed to make school work. Spring Break will be a breath of fresh air for those of you who have been masked up and giving it your all to reinvent school.

Regardless of whether you're working from home or

meeting your school family in person, heart to heart,

you've likely gone through some trauma and stress,

something that doesn't seem sustainable and that

certainly doesn't feel like what you were called to do.

Here's a truth we pondered during a webinar recently:

A truth that's not just for the kids, but for faculty and staff, too.

Can I hear an Amen?

As I reflect, I'm wondering if you've felt

some of the same things that I have.

I've felt scared.

I've felt lonely.

I've felt isolated.

I've felt disconnected.

And I've felt lost.

Pretty much felt all of the feels on this wheel.

I miss connecting.

I miss the sound of voices.

I miss seeing smiles.

I miss people.

I miss gathering.

I miss going to the movies.

I miss presenting face-to-face.

Have I mentioned that I miss smiles? 😞

And hugs.

I don't want to air hug ever again.

It feels cold. And weird.

There. I said it.

Now to what I've learned.

I've learned that people are really important to me.

And that relationships matter to me,

especially my husband and kids.

I've learned to love what is. Sort of.

I'm getting comfortable being uncomfortable.

Speaking of uncomfortable, I learned to present on Zoom and Meet

 even as I was figuring out that many educators don't like 

learning that way as much as I don't care to teach that way.

And I've written more letters in this one year than

I had penned in the two or three decades prior.

I was grateful for our mail carrier. Every. Day!

One of my greatest joys when I wrote to the seniors in the 

Class of 2020 who had attended my elementary school

was when they took the time to write back and, as a bonus,

used the bucket-filling language I had taught them. 💜

We had a lot of interesting hurdles with our 

two older children planning weddings 

during a pandemic, but at the end of it all, 

we are grateful for our amazing in-laws.

Gratitude has definitely been a critical

part of our corona-coaster ride.

If your little boy still lets you hold his hand,

know that this dance is coming. 

And it won't be easy.

But if this year has taught us anything, 

it's that we are wired to do hard things.

So there it is, a whole lot of recalculating

from last March 11th until today as we

joyfully journey on life's roadmap and

walk alongside one another.

We still haven't been immunized though we've

discussed it and will likely do that soon, so we can

feel protected in our reconnection revolution.

Here's to applying all of the lessons

as we spring forward into a new season;

I'd love to read your reflections if you'd

like to drop them in the comments below.