Mindful Monday: 2020: Been There, Done That, & Bought the Shirt!

I would assume that no educator thought that in our line of work, we would EVER have the capability to work remotely. And yet, here we find ourselves. The notion that I would teach students that are not present in the school building is not even something I would have guessed in my wildest dreams. Yet, once again, this is our reality. 

2020 is a year we will not soon forget. It has most definitely been a year of many firsts. And with firsts often comes growing pains, lots of trial and error, and new, and often, uncomfortable situations. 

With all the change, with all the uncertainty, with what feels like an endless list of impossible asks, it's easy to feel buried. I have been totally and completely overwhelmed more than once during this year. At times, I have absolutely felt like there is no light at the end of the tunnel. And on occasion, I have felt beat down by life. 

But here we are. We have made it to December of what feels like the longest year ever. We have nearly made it through the first semester of what is sure to be the most bizarre school year of our career, and we're still in one piece. Perhaps, we are worn down, a little ragged and tired of staring at a computer screen, but in a few short weeks will we officially be able to say in regards to 2020, we've been there, done that and we've even bought the shirt to prove that we survived it. 

That's right- in a few weeks, you will be able to say that You Survived 2020! 

Hopefully, the thought of Google Meets or Zoom crashing no longer terrifies you. Hopefully, you realize that the idea of having all 20 students in the same physical space is no longer necessary for you to make a difference. And hopefully, you have come out of 2020 with more computer skills than you ever knew you needed. 

Having lived through 2020 means that you are tougher than you ever thought. Perhaps you were pushed out of your comfort zone again and again, but you are better for it. 

Here's hoping you find the light in 2021 and move past just surviving and begin thriving again.