Know When to Walk
🎼You've got to know when to hold 'em
Know when to fold 'em
Know when to walk away
And know when to run
You never count your money
When you're sittin' at the table
There'll be time enough for countin'
When the dealin's done🎤
Last week the great Kenny Rogers passed away and these lyrics have not left my mind since. Maybe because it was one of my favorite songs of his. Maybe because it reminds me of years gone by and memories this song brings. Or maybe it’s because right now so many of us are trying to juggle so much we are wondering if we can handle it all. How much of this chaos is worth navigating and what parts can we just walk away from?
This pandemic has completely reshaped so much of our lives. The way every single person is working looks different. My husband is considered essential and is still reporting, but the way they start their day and the physical distance requirements has made their work look different. I am helping people navigate keeping community and learning going in schools that have been closed as a result. Many people are now working from home while also trying to keep their kids learning happening. Some are now quarantined alone with all their social opportunities suddenly unavailable. I could go on and on about all the ways life has been flipped on it’s head, but I think we are all plenty aware of that.
The blessing in all of this is that people are finding new and amazing ways to connect. Parades through neighborhoods. Video calls with family and friends. Writing letters to long lost pals. It’s incredible the way communities have come together.
Yet with all this incredible innovation comes another wave of exhaustion.
How can I keep up ensuring I make the most of this time alone? How can I keep up with all this new connectivity? How can I make sure my kids are having as much fun as all those that have parents making incredible crafts and lessons?
Hey…guess what? You don’t have to worry about any of that! There are a ton of helpful ideas being circulated, but in the motto of 6th grade DARE class…just say NO! Do not add to your already exhausted plate. You are home. Safe. And that’s what you need to worry about.
We are creatures of habit and right now many of our habits have come to a grinding halt. It may seem easy to try out some of these ideas being shared, but suddenly some becomes all and next thing you know your a Jack of All Trades, Master of None. Or back to the terrible habit of being burned out.
Give yourself grace. Do not feel like you aren’t doing enough. you are doing SO much. You are helping flatten the curve and getting us back to a place where we can enjoy those very things we miss.
As an educator, mom, wife, and friend, I can assure you the best lessons we can teach right now is creativity, connectivity, and compassion.
Creativity to drive this new generation toward innovation. This is the time to inspire new thought and ideas. You may not feel comfortable teaching the lessons they are being sent home from school. That is OK! You are there to provide a safe space. The learning will happen naturally as they explore outside and have to find new ways of entertaining their minds. And believe it or not, many digital gaming platforms have great team-building, math, and science components that are more educational than you may realize.
Communication with people in a way we often ignored. I know my family had become so busy that conversations with friends and family were often brief and in passing. Despite the fact that we loved the time we’d see our family and friends, we had really taken for granted the meaningful time to talk. Now, we are texting, calling, video chatting, and writing letters not just to those immediate friends, but to people we haven’t talked to or seen in years. We are all humans who love that connection and right now it’s showing us just how meaningful these relationships are.
Compassion has been shown throughout the world simply through the act of social distancing. This incredible display of global compassion goes beyond what I could have ever imagined. Generations to come will hopefully remember how we handled ourselves and the impact of trying to come together by being alone.
Life is a challenge right now so focus on the good and be ok walking away from the things that aren’t fueling you. This can be your chance to wipe clean the energy suckers and pivot yourself toward the people, activities, and things that energize you.
Now is your time. What are you going to hold, fold, and walk away from?
