But seriously, there's just a lot on everybody's plate and mind. I find that this is no different, and quite often is even more the case, when it comes to our students. Aside from all the usual preteen and teenage conundrums, there are so many other existential crises currently in play. Unofficially off the top of my head...
-election news
-coronavirus
-sea levels
-organic/gluten free/GMO/various intolerance issues with eating and diets
-navigating real life with online life, especially for young women
-the overall effect of social media and growing up
-pressure around grades and high stakes tests for the "perfect" college choices
-high competitive environments around all sports and activities
There are more, as this is not an exhaustive list at all. Add on top of all these things how disconnected students - and everyone - can all feel, and what you're left with has the potential to feel very isolating and overwhelming.
While I have no real good ideas to combat all this (mostly because it's been rattling around my brain aimlessly), I do feel strongly about one thing. There's an inherent power behind the act of leaning in to all of these things. Leaning in to problem-solving and pragmatic thinking around problems. To leaning in to healthy ways to combat stress: exercise, meditation, mindfulness, serving others, finding a purpose. And maybe most importantly (IMHO, as the kids say via text), leaning in to relationships with others...with friends, colleagues, family, teammates, acquaintances, mentors, teachers, coaches, and anyone else who can support, sustain, and otherwise be there us.
As the saying goes, No Man Is An Island. Even though we seem to try harder and harder in our world to create islands and worlds for ourselves, it seems paramount to bridge to others as much as we can. If you're good to go, be that bridge for another.
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