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This week, our school district began remote teaching for the first time. In order to do so, we also rolled out an entirely new online communication system for collecting and assigning work and staying in contact with students. Had an unexpected, life-routine-changing event not happened to require such a tool to be necessary, we may not have appreciated all that it
can do as a way of staying in close contact with our students during this uncertain time.
I was most appreciative for this new platform as it solved most, if not all, of my concerns for teaching, assessing, etc.; however, sometimes we do not know how insufficient or limiting our current way of doing something is until we are forced to try a different approach. Yes, it is true necessity is the mother of invention, but necessity could also be said to be the
mother of progress.
So often we do not realize we would be better off if we tried doing something differently because we are getting by with what works adequately now. The known is comfortable. Exhaustion and mind fatique are normal when having to do something new, but such exhaustion is only temporary until the change is habituated in our minds thereby freeing up space, and thus
energy to move fluidly through the new routine and have space to use our minds in additional ways.
I shared in TSLL's IG Stories this week a quote that was shared with me by a reader (thank you Sue!), "In the rush to return to normal, use this time to consider which parts of normal are worth rushing back to." Written by Dave Hollis, he makes an important thought to ponder: All that we are being forced to do, what is it making us realize about what we were doing? What was actually working? And not only working so-so, but most importantly, what was working well? Why not only return to what was working significantly above average but also take a look at what was working mundanely and in the latter case, try something new?
There is a real opportunity in this state of crisis we find ourselves, and it begins with reflection and raw honesty about how we want to live the rest of our lives. One small, but what I think could be significant detail to examine in my own life is taking a close look at my online habits and how they may be unconsciously influencing certain decisions that are not helpful to my goals. How can I reduce those? How can I better manage my time when it comes to my use of technology? Perhaps there will be a blog post detailing such a topic of things
worth examining, but in the meantime, since we have time, let's take advantage of what will likely be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get it right, or at least to improve upon what was already more amazing than we fully appreciated before everything changed.
Speaking of appreciation, I appreciate every single TSLL weekly newsletter subscriber, all 14,000+ of you. Those of you who have been along the journey of TSLL’s evolution for going on ten years and those who have just discovered what living simply luxuriously is all about, thank you for your interest, curiosity, and time. I have been humbled by your kindness from the
recent emails, as well as your comments and shares on social media recommending TSLL to your friends and family. Thank you for choosing to stop by the blog looking for inspiration to live a life with conscious consideration to how you can elevate your own everyday life in your own unique way. I thoroughly enjoy this opportunity to connect and share and consider it a privilege I do not take lightly, nor ever want to take for granted. I look forward to continuing to share
sincerely and to the best of my ability content that inspires, motivates and reminds you of how much you can thoughtfully curate and tailor to your passions and purpose a life you enjoy living each day. But now, we must get on to the newsletter! :)
In this week’s issue, three additional posts were shared (this is becoming a regular occurrence ;)). One seasonal post was shared that is abundantly full of spring wardrobe shopping items - TSLL's annual Spring Shopping Guide. As well, the weekly series continues in Part Trois of Petit Plaisirs for you to savor and enjoy. Lastly, for my fellow
gardeners, learning how to successfully sow my own seeds was the inspiration for just such a post in which I share 12 simple steps to a successful seedling journey.
It has been snowing on and off all week here in Bend, but every once in a while we see the blue sky, and that is when I will often go outside and poke around in my yard with the boys. The rhubarb was seen yesterday beginning to really blossom out of the ground with its brilliant red stalks, and the daffodils bloomed for the first time this season - a full month earlier than last
year where they were planted at my west-side rental home which was far shadier. As well, I have planted my first wisteria, and I have my homework assigned this weekend - to read up on how to grow well wisteria as I so hope to have the gorgeous lavender blooms draped about my porch in the years to come.
Okay, enough with my day-dreaming, let's get to today and this weekend! The newsletter awaits, and I do hope you enjoy. Thank you for subscribing and until next week, stay well, and I will see you on the blog.
