Walking in a Winter Wonderland

     As I was walking to the babysitters, yes this is another way you know it is 2020, I was looking around me. As I crossed the empty road I could see one car driving about a quarter mile away. The elementary parking lot was empty and the playground had an eerie post apocalyptic feel. I cut through the woods behind the elementary and continued. As I walked I could see some people looking out their windows at me. I could hear the questions in my head, "Why is she out there?" "Where is her mask?" "Where could she be going?" I can't help, but wonder why?

    2020 has been no one's dream year (except maybe Amazon and other online retailers). I think when life hands us lemons, let's make some lemon meringue! I am a big proponent for the power of positive thinking. That is not to say ignore reality, but maybe to look at reality, and choose to not focus entirely on the negative. 

    "Easier said than done!" "But what about...." "How can you say that when-"

    I am not saying that life is always a box of caramels. I am saying sometimes it's nice to notice that you have a beautiful box, even if the caramels are gone.  We need to start thinking more positive in life. We need to stop being as suspicious and negative (although it is oh so easy to fall down that slippery slope) and start looking at what is going ok. I know, it can be difficult when we are sitting at home, looking at our computer screens at all the black rectangles which is where each student's screen should be, or if you are in the classroom, as you look out and see the sea of eyes. Really what we need to do is start small. What is one thing that went well today? What is one thing that went as planned, or better yet, an unexpected positive? When starting this may be difficult. Is the sun shining? The family pet didn't stand or lay on your computer during class? You had a few students voluntarily unmute to share their thoughts? We need to celebrate this. Write in a journal. If nothing else, take a few minutes, call some families with students that have A's. During this pandemic especially, these children tend to fall through the cracks. Call these families and let them know you notice. They have great children, they are sharing, participating, turning their work in. Let them know you appreciate the job they are doing (the student and the parents). You have never been so surprised as this may make you. Parents of good students, especially good and quiet students don't often get phone calls from school. 

    If you have collaboration meetings with your colleagues, bringing positivity is a must. We have to be willing to (sometimes swallow our tongues) compliment our coworkers on something/anything we notice that they are doing that we like. We don't know anyone else's struggles. That little thing? It might be huge to him/her. You don't know. In this current crisis, you don't know what others are going through, and that compliment, or comment, might be the only positive thing your coworker hears today. Make it good. 

    As I walked down the empty street to pick up my kids I realized that we are all so lonely right now. Everyone is suspicious of  everyone else, everyone is so ready to look at life through the glass, we need to make contact, any way that we can. We need to reach out and be the positivity the world needs. It is every small deed, one at a time that will build a change. A change in ourselves and maybe a change in our community.