What a week.
I write this to you after wrapping up our first full week of online learning. I’m exhausted. I’m frayed. I’m thrilled tomorrow is a PD day even though they’ve barely started school.
We chose this path to be sure, and I don’t regret it. But that doesn’t mean, nor does it minimize, how very hard it is.
Since Monday, I’ve navigated 25 tech challenges while listening in to a gaggle of fifth graders interrupt the teacher to talk about Roblox. I’ve had four conversations with my tearful daughter about it being ok to not know how to do something and that it’s important for her to ask for help when she needs it. I’ve spent more time than I’d care to chronicle with my son helping him figure out how to budget his time and his tasks. And I’ve brushed up on my wetlands, Canadian forests and math pattern knowledge.
I am now waking up early again to get a few solid work hours in between 5:30 and 9 am, followed by a few in the evenings after we get home from soccer practice. I fit a trip to the grocery store in there somewhere, holding back from kicking a few customers in the shins who insist their opinions are more important than our health as they walk around with their masks below their noses.
I crawl into bed at 11, wiped. And it’s only week one. It has to get better, right?
I talk to my friends who’ve sent their kids back to school, and most are crossing their fingers, toes and any other available body part in hopes that they can get one more day in before the school calls. Some have already had to quarantine, some have had to get tested and then return, others have been forced to self-isolate based on incorrect information supplied by their school’s administration.
Those without kids aren’t exempt from the stress and weariness. Job uncertainty, political upheaval, the death of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the failing lack of justice on behalf of Breonna Taylor, debates about masks, the looming winter ahead and a global pandemic is more than enough to leave us all feeling drained and out of gas. We are seven months in and we’re stuck right in the messy middle with no clear end in sight.
I recognize this isn’t the most uplifting message today, but I’m writing it to you because it’s my truth and because I know it could be very likely yours (or a version of). Pretending otherwise would be disingenuous. And I think it’s important to be real – even in the muck of it all.
Your situation is probably different – possibly better or unfortunately worse – but there is no denying that we’re all feeling the strain of things on some level. There’s a lot of hard out there in the world right now, and mine is pretty low stakes in the scheme of things.
But struggle isn’t a competition – your hard is hard. My hard is hard. Full stop.
It would feel tacky to finish this with a bullet list of five things you can do to get through a hard time. I have ideas of course and am working to put them in place moving forward.
But for today, let me just acknowledge those of you in the trenches right now with me. And remind you that if you’re struggling to get shit done or hold a coherent conversation or write or read or focus or care about what to make for dinner – it’s normal and it’s ok.
You aren’t failing. You’re not doing it wrong. And you aren’t the only one feeling like a balloon with its air let out.
It’s just really hard right now.
Let’s do what we can to go a little easier on ourselves as we wade our way through. One day at a time.
Steph
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💡 FRESH, HAND-PICKED RESOURCES
Curated links from around the web to help you work well, live well and lead well.
I linked to this in last week’s Leadership Letters (in the letter itself), but given that at least five people have sent it to me since, I’m posting it here again in case you missed it. Because this is REALLY worth reading right now. Your ‘Surge Capacity’ is Depleted — it’s Why You Feel Awful.And this essay. If you haven’t read it yet, it’s beautiful and heartbreaking – and worth your time.
You’re not going to believe what I’m about to tell you — an important reminder, especially right now. Take a moment to read the entire thing. And here’s more on the Backfire Effect if you’re interested.
The grammar geek in me loves this post. Guilty as charged on Poisonous vs Venomous.
Efficient or Productive? Seth Godin saying it like it is.
There’s just so much bad news. A thoughtful podcast episode to help us stay grounded in the face of the unsettling world around us.
A Fake News Survival Guide (podcast) – a good reminder for us all. TL;DL? Follow these three tips: 1) Read/listen/watch critically before sharing (59% of Twitter links are shared before the person has even clicked through the link), 2) Check the source and 3) Check the support (e.g who’s being quoted/what evidence is being given).
My 🇨🇦 heart is happy thanks to the Schitt’s Sweep at the Emmy’s.
I’ve been a long-time follower of Asha, and I’m inspired by her latest project, Vote+1 that shares positive, productive, concrete ways you can help more Democratic voters cast their ballots in the 2020 election. Check it out here.
Lesley Vaage, LEAD.Well member and fierce advocate for equitable workplaces just launched Cheerful, Careerful – a newsletter for the radically inclusive professional. Sign up here (I did!).
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Type doc.new into your search bar and instantly open a new Google doc. Mind blown.
While my entire life – including project plans, tasks and more live inside of Notion, sometimes I miss the simplicity of a week-at-a-glance printed schedule. Enter Tweek – a To-Do Weekly Calendar App. This tool is brand new and still lacks a few key features, but I’m keen to see where it goes. I’m going to give it a try with my kids to help manage their weekly schoolwork.
This post is why I’m still on Twitter. Ready for a saga of epic proportions involving rice? You’re welcome.
And this video is a reminder of the goodness that still exists. 💛
“Genuinely joyful people are often not taken seriously, but there are few things harder or braver than hanging onto your delight and awe amid the flaming furnace of the world’s horrors. a truly joyful person has a soul made of steel.”
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💥THE WEEK IN A GIF
This made my week (it’s a low bar).
