Just a Post, Nothing of any Consequence (92)

Today is April 1, 2020. We have been distance learning for a week. There were hiccups with technology, overloading of an educational platform, isolation and just plain old frustration and exhaustion of millions of educators. Deadlines extended, on-line communication, a new way of teaching. All because of a microscopic organism that decided to invade the human population.

I could go on and on about fear, anxiety and how even introverts like myself are struggling with the quarantine. But, there are thousands of articles out there to read about that topic. I could share full-proof strategies, must haves for every teacher- but there are even more of those out there. I could write about what I'm doing in this time of distancing. But I know- who cares.

I am not being negative. I really am not. I am being honest. I have good ideas and I write about them. I rant a little. I spread mindfulness and kindness quotes. I do not Tweet negativity of any kind. I write as positively as I can. Hiding my darkness. I try to stay optimistic. I know I am a very good teacher. I work hard. I am dedicated and focused.

I have not written a book- I am trying. I have a few chapters, but then I think about it and well...who wants to read what I am writing when there are louder voices, people who know people and who can get something published. I write a blog- not many people read it. Especially now that hundreds of thousands more educators are blogging and sharing. The market is saturated.

I have a chat- people come. This is hopeful. My voice is not as quiet as I thought. I visit chats, a lot of the time no one responds to me. I just send out responses. It can be daunting. I have 4 children at home. 3 teenagers. We do not live in a giant house, but a 3 bedroom, one story,  square foot home where there really is no place to go to get absolute quiet.

So I try to stay up late, so upon slumber, I can have a moment to think. This throws off my rhythm. But, how else can quiet exist in a tight-knit family? Quarantine is difficult. But as with all aspects of this situation- doable. So I do. I am not a flashy teacher- never have been. But I do my best to keep lessons interesting and the mindfulness lessons integrated.

This is just a post, nothing of any consequence. I will not even Tweet it out widely. So most likely no one will read it. But it needed to be written. It needed to be posted. This #EduBlogYear journey is the second time I have embarked on daily writing, for a full year. It is hard but worth it. It is meaningful only to me. It is an outlet for my words that jumble and twist, inside me, until they are out.

That is the important thing about quarantine and distancing. Our outlets were removed. Our audible conversations have been muted. You could use Zoom with 'zoomtrollers' jumping in and hacking your conversation. I am just overwhelmed at the amount of negativity in the world that people need to break into someone else's conversation with porn and hate speech. I mean really?

But in any situation there are the opportunist, negative, jerks that have to ruin it for people. They are unhappy and they need to let out their frustration too, but the only way they know how is to attack. Like the virus, they are hateful attackers. But, when you think about it they are worse- for the virus is a survival strategist- they simply want to live, exist, thrive. Where the trolls want to cause mayhem and havoc. They are just mean.

So I end today, my just a post, with just an ending- be nice to one another. Store your baggage in an overhead compartment. Over your head. So if it shifts during flight- it lands on your noggin. Maybe if you are positive, you'll catch it or dodge its fall. But, if you are a troll or a negativity seeker- maybe it will just smack some sense into you.