The extension of the Order has deflated many this week. In the words of one of our members: My light is extinguished. I went home and unplugged all my lights.
I do not believe that a simple wish for happy holidays offers enough hope. We need inspiration.
I have shared before that my wife inspired me to get more active although I’m not an athlete. I’ve taken up some running and have been a regular at a local gym. And when I’m running or exercising, I find myself looking forward to the end. The best part of the run or the workout is when it is over!
At the beginning, I visualize the end and parcel out my energy to get me there. I pace. I keep my mind focused. I will notice the gripe from my knee or ankle, but I pack it away to attend to when I’m done. You steel your mind, and you keep going.
Yet when I’m nearing the end, as I approach the last kilometre or count down the remaining minutes, the tank feels empty. That painful knee is harder to ignore; fatigue is setting in; my confidence is lagging, and I feel doubt. I find the last stretch to be the hardest part, and I want to stop … but I don’t. And I have my wife to thank for that.
In 2016, we drove across the country to visit family in Newfoundland. On the way, my wife ran the equivalent of a marathon in each province. In two weeks, as we drove, she ran eight marathons. A number of these were back-to-back: you do the math. Her inspiration? A modest boy named Terry. And in this week – at a time when we may be just hanging on and crossing the days off the calendar – a Kamloops Principal shared that his school community has adopted a ‘Terry Fox mindset’, running from one telephone pole to the next, one at a time.
Let me join his words to your own words, in a chorus of inspiration:
… may have been the first school this year, but we will not be the last… All in all we did okay.
… reach out and let us know how we can be of service.
I am quite blessed to be here.
Our district has been fabulous!
So many folks have reached out, and I certainly do not feel alone!
It’s not a picnic, but I feel solid through it … good teamwork here.
It’s been a stressful few days, but I know that support is a phone call away.
… the staff has been tremendous as well.
I am happy to report that we are all hangin’ in, still smiling and still coming together as a team.
The District team was awesome as was my entire community.
I can’t begin to tell you how supported I feel. I’m so lucky.
… it means a lot that we work with a group of supportive, caring people.
… in the midst of all this … generally I'm staying positive.
I am proud to be a Principal …
Everyone involved has been absolutely amazing through this.
… life here goes on, embracing the joy of getting together.
… we are weathering the storm this week recognizing only time will move us forward.
I am hopeful this pandemic will pass soon.
Come 2021, schools will welcome back students and begin once more. I trust we will continue to find our inspiration in each other.
I will close with one final quote to bookend this entry with the same voice I shared at the beginning: I plugged the tree back in tonight … We will get through this Thing!
I wish you peace in the last days of 2020.
Keep well and safe.