10 Kasım 2019, Pazar
saat: 08:06
The small work of the day is often unseen. The small work is shadowed by those more pressing, more important tasks, but it is the small work that can chip away at the spirit. Small work such as mediating conflicts between others. Small work such as providing care for overwhelmed students and advisees. Small work such as offering support or simple time during another’s point of stress — here, I'll drive you to your appointment and keep you company while you grade all these papers. Dishes must be done. Towels must be washed and folded. People must be listened to. Grades must be entered into the system. You must not react to goading or disrespect, because it is usually useless and a barrier is better. You must keep yourself together. You must keep everything else together. Things are to be maintained. You know this. And relationships take as much maintenance as a home. Perhaps others should care more, too. People ought to not be rude. No one should attack another, dismiss another. We should offer a little patience, kindness. We should not be condescending. We ought not behave superior. We should rather strive to understand. I try to understand. I try to see the gifts in people. Sometimes it is easy, sometimes it is more difficult. With age, with experience, we can learn ways to cope & I suppose I have, but I'm learning more. Always.
In the past few years, I've deliberately surrounded myself closely with only the people who are good, mature, reliable, genuine, respectful, supportive, secure, stable, safe - and seen the positive difference it makes in a life, my life. It is just this pure peace + I am so thankful.
