No Words
From the desk of Alice…
After the Newtown shootings in December I kept thinking I would find some words to put in a blog. The words never came.
After Monday’s tragedy in Boston, I just couldn’t land on any other blog that seemed to say the right thing. As I scanned my files and the internet, I couldn’t find anything that seemed right to post because I am still not sure what to say.
Instead of finding what I was looking for, I was reminded of other tragedies from what has become the historical week from hell. The cities of Waco, Oklahoma City, Columbine, Blacksburg, and Boston have been forever changed during this week of April. What is there to say that hasn’t already been said?
I still don’t know what to say so I just started writing in hopes that the process would settle my mind and bring clarity to my thoughts. There were children and/or students involved in each tragic event of this week across the years and as an educator (and parent) I almost throw up when I think about the reality of it. Is it society? Is it bullying? Is it too much government? Is it too little government? Is it religion or lack thereof? Is it a mental health issue or some other hidden issue that we haven’t recognized yet? Who knows.
All I know is that on this day, I want to be kind to each child I encounter. On this day I want them to feel safe, believe in humanity, and see themselves as a part of it. On this day I want them to know that they have gifts to share and it is important that they learn what they are. On this day, I want to look children in their eyes and help them feel connected to others so they won’t turn around and blow us up.
On this day, I also want to be kind to educators. On this day I want to take a deep breath and stop worrying about saving the entire world. On this day, I want to take time to enjoy students, classrooms and colleagues. I want to celebrate the smiles and laughter and funny things that happen in a school that make them the best places on earth.
It’s going to take effort to be nice and kind in the wake of crazy, tragic events that happen that make no sense. It’s going to take even more effort to be nice and kind as the shock of those events fade away and we fall back into our familiar routines and lose our patience over broken rules, crazy politics, and upcoming standardized tests. Do it anyway. Your reach is much larger than you realize.
“Do not wait for leaders. Do it alone, person to person.” ~ Mother Teresa