During this pandemic I, like many people, have struggled with loneliness, anxiety, and burnout. And because of that, I was drawn to the book Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle, by Emily and Amelia Nagoski. Wanting to talk about it with someone, I first bought a copy for my best friend from high school who lives in Central New York, and that kickstarted our weekly Saturday phone call. I then recommended it to a friend on a socially distant walk one day. We now keep getting together to vent and complete our stress cycle by walking. I purchased more copies of it and gave them as gifts to 8 of my students with my daughter dressed as her interpretation of an “elf” to deliver them (with some other stress-relief goodies) to their homes. A former student of mine was the latest recipient and we now try to talk on Sundays. When I read the book it spoke to me, and has inspired me to reach out more to people I care about so that we can support each other.
As a high school educator and a mother, I have learned to look at people differently. This pandemic has taught me to. The people we think we are, the people others think we are- we may all be wrong. Just be kind. You never know what people are struggling with.
