Recently I put a video out.

I thought I could change the world with it.  Or at least the world I live in.  Bring back the student section and pep band.  Limit the time quarantined.

I built my case.  Did my research.  Read every damn google article I could find to support my beliefs.

What I found was that this is not how the public sector works (good or bad but reality).    You can’t just build a case, go the school board, and change NATIONAL policy.

What I realized was this SUCKS.

SOMETIMES LIFE IS HARD.

SOMETIMES THINGS ARE OUT OF YOUR CONTROL.

AND SHIT HAPPENS.

This is one of those times.

School and school boards for decades (longer?) report to higher powers.  Those higher powers report to other higher powers.  Those powers are the CDC, the state and our national government.  Currently, their rules (and it’s not like the private sector, you CAN’T skirt the work rules) require

MASKS

DISTANCING

QUARANTINING

NO LARGE GROUPS (NO PEP BAND OR STUDENT SECTION)

in an abundantly cautious approach trying to do the best to protect students, teachers, administration and staff.

It doesn’t MATTER what you think, the policy is the policy built by someone you never met but have to trust based on their position above you.  THIS IS HOW THE GAME WORKS.

THIS GAME IS NOT WINNABLE. 

AND THAT’S OK.

I try to embrace life as a series of games.

I thought someway, somehow I could bottle up everyone’s frustrations and fix this.  I could outwork them.  Out educate them.  Out hustle them.

I CAN’T.  YOU CAN’T.

What we can do….

HELP TEACHERS.   They might feel like me and think we should be more liberal in our views of this.  They might feel we should be virtual.  Their voice sadly doesn’t matter with how the system works.   It’s ok to tell them it sucks but support them either way.  We need them.   Support them emotionally and financially and give them a break.  THEY HAVE TO FOLLOW THE RULES THEY DIDN’T MAKE.

HAVE FUN OUTSIDE THE SCHOOL WALLS.   Get together (if you want) have fun.  Find ways to enjoy life outside the walls and curriculum of the public sector.  If your son loves basketball (yep) and your school cancels basketball it’s probably not the school’s fault but someone way up the ladder on a committee, it’s the system not the school.  So support your son, find a gym and program open and join that.  Move on quickly.  LOVE will conquer covid, not fighting.  #MEMORIESANDMOMENTS

EDUCATE YOUR CHILDREN.  Don’t let them be sheep and just believe whatever they hear from ANYONE, be it you, your teacher, your neighbor or grandpa.  Tell them to do the research and think independently.  Kids are getting caught up in this.  Educate them on how Hitler attacked the kids first because they were the easiest to convince.  Keep conversations to children open-ended, don’t force your opinion on them!  Here’s a great read for them (and you perhaps) on the Hitler Youth.

DON’T BE MAD.  Hate the system, don’t hate the player.  It’s ok to try to change the system, BUT DON’T GET MAD AT THE PLAYERS.

EDUCATE YOURSELF.  Now that I have spent hours AND HOURS on masks, deaths, covid, and much much more, I feel not a medical expert but versed enough to make a conclusion for the best of my own mind.  I feel empowered and in control.   When you truly educate yourself you go from being a sheep to a wolf.  Being a wolf is a much better move IN THE GAME OF LIFE to prepare for this AND YOUR NEXT game in life.

GAME.  Life is a game.  A big one but a game.  This is A FANTASTIC PODCAST TO UNDERSTAND THAT.  And sometimes you just play the best you can.  But understand it’s meant by God to be a game!

 

FINALLY

CONTROL THE CONTROLLABLES.  For me changing the “culture of covid” does matter but I can only control it at my work life (Thank God) and my home life.  TO FOCUS ON IT, IT MUST BE BOTH.  IF NOT, LET IT GO LIKE A FALL BREEZE.  That’s it.   So don’t stress over the stuff out of your control, and for me, the way a public school functions is primarily out of my control.   So I must MUST let it go to be the best version of myself so I can move on, help others, and be happy and do God’s will.  That’s it.

 

I’m moving on…and helping where and when I can… FAITH > FEAR.

FACIL,

Joel