Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can,
in all the places you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as ever you can.
– John Wesley
May 1, 2020: We keep seeing and hearing the words “unprecedented” and “uncertain”, over, and over, and over. One thing that remains the same is that each of us can do good things. That looks different for every single person. For some, it is staying home every day to keep themselves and others safe. For some it is taking care of their family. For some it is donating something to keep others safe or fed during the pandemic. There is no right or wrong way. For me, because I am able, it has been trying to make sure families from our school know they are seen and they are valued. Valued enough that they deserve to have good food for their family, valued enough that a teacher or school staff member will check in with them regularly to make sure they are okay, valued enough to receive masks so they can go to the store without being being judged for not caring about others or being uneducated.
I cannot stand wearing a mask, but I will do it as long as I have to because I understand why it matters. My smile and my facial expressions have been my way of letting people know that I care for most of my life. These masks, no matter how beautifully crafted some of them are, are stifling me (not to mention fogging up my glasses), but I will wear one until they are not necessary any more (fingers crossed that is sooner than later). Hugging children has been my natural response when I see students for over 35 years. I have adjusted to smiling with my eyes, yelling through cloth so people can hear me and not hugging children, for now. That’s what it takes so I can do all the good I can, during a time when I don’t know what else to do. I really don’t know what else to do or I will sit around and think too much and then I will just cry. I still cry, but it is less frequently as I keep myself busy knowing I am doing what I can. Because I can. One day we will all look back at this time in history with disbelief, but we will go on. We will be okay. We can do this. Each in our own way.
PJ 