5 Principles of Reiki

Just for today, I will not worry

Just for today, I will not be angry

Just for today, I will do my work honestly

Just for today, I will be kind to all living things

Just for today, I will be grateful for my many blessings

COVID – The Dystopian Novel

Recently, with the number of COVID cases on the rise in my hometown province of Nova Scotia, and the start of another lockdown, life feels a bit like a dystopian novel – having to follow rules enforced by the government to help keep us safe from a virus that is very dangerous to some yet not to others. The virus is like a role of the dice – if I contact it – will I become gravely ill and possibly die or will I suffer uncomfortable symptoms for a few days, then it passes?

Serious stuff.

All of this is out of my realm of control. What I can control is how I take steps to make sure I am following protocols – not out of fear – but out of a respect for the health and well-being of myself and those in my family, my friends and my community.

Life Continues

Along with this, is the reality of everyday life that still unfolds as COVID unfolds along side it. I work in education. This was overhauled and adapted to operate during this pandemic. Wasn’t easy keeping kids in the same cohorts, away from their close friends in other classes. It wasn’t easy constantly telling kids to put their masks back on, or pull them back up over their noses as I suffocated under mine and wanted nothing more than to take it off. It wasn’t easy being in a class where kids didn’t get along but had no choice but be stuck with one another. It wasn’t easy being in an environment where everyone was getting a bit more exhausted as each day passed. My moral was low. My patience, wearing thin. But I tried my best.

Online learning started this past week and I’m working from home. I’m actually happy for this. I work with some great people who try very hard to bring a positive attitude to the day – but under it all is this COVID exhaustion – to an already exhausting profession.

Gratitude

Is something I’ve been struggling with lately. I do find myself on a bit on the upswing, because I’m getting a break from being at work. I’ve been catching up on my sleep and able to have extra time to be able to start catching up on my very long to-do list that I’ve slowly been checking off on weekends – not leaving a lot of time for activities I enjoy.

Today, I am grateful to be in lockdown. To get a break from having to be out there in a classroom where teenage kids, who are already struggling with hormones and teenage issues, are also struggling with COVID protocols, resulting in more kids choosing to be mean rather than kind – because they are COVID frustrated as well.

I’m grateful for the break to give me time to get my patience and my perspective back.

I am support staff whose job is to support behavioral students in the classroom. Patience, compassion and perspective are key traits to be successful in this position. My shield of being able to pick my battles and not engage when purposely provoked for a reaction and get under my skin – was in need of repair. This lockdown is giving me that time.

Limits

We all have limits to what we can handle. COVID is sure testing that. I can’t do it all, be everything to everyone, and all that… I’m exhausted. I’ve reached my limit. I need a break. I need to get my strength back.

Just for today, I am grateful for this time in lockdown.

S, 🌼