Day 10. March 25, 2020.

Today was really busy.

I had a Zoom writing meeting with friends in Ireland (except Niall who is “from” Ireland but in Uruguay right now and can’t return or travel elsewhere in South America). We ended up talking about why it’s hard to focus on writing fiction right now (in many ways, we are living it) and how to finish projects. Author Cat Hogan shared how author Kevin Barry had close to 120,000 words for the draft version of his latest book, Night Boat To Tangier, and that was edited and trimmed down to 45,000. Either you are building by adding or sculpting by removing. I am just trying to finish a story that has three significant driving points.

I had a virtual staff meeting with work. I have nothing further to say.

I did yoga.

I wrote.

I read.

I provided feedback to students’ writing–those who choose to participate.

I share my thoughts with the group of educators that Kelly and Penny have created.

I did laundry.

I talked to my mother. And my sister.

I replied to friends’ texts.

I ranted about this and that in my Dooligan What’s App group. I laughed out loud at several items shared.

I was done with everything by 2:30 p.m. and I didn’t have to wake up at 5:45 a.m. to do it.

This brings me back to yesterday’s post where I had mentioned the word professional being obsolete. I have now more to add to that. I think the biggest problem we have in the U.S. (and other countries following the U.S. model) is between productivity and “work”. Most people can do what they are supposed to do in half the time, but the “system” isn’t set up that way–so everyone is encouraged to, for a lack of better words, waste time. Wasting time is exhausting and such a waste or resources. It’s much more refreshing to take a nap after 2:00 p.m. or read or write a letter or play a game or go for a jog or learn what’s going on in Croatia or play golf or spend time with one’s loved ones. Anything but pretending to work will do. I think professionalism is obsolete because there is no value for productivity. The most efficient is not rewarded anymore but discouraged.

I think what’s also very visible to everyone during this strange time is how people have degrees and no experience. Leadership is about insight and all the small interactions that determine everything and not because…all the reasons we know.

Today, I share with you two things. One is written by my mother-in-law and worth everyone’s time. Shared here with permission.

One of the reasons I do what I, and many others also do, is to help people see the circle in its spiral form so they don’t have to stay stuck on the tread mill of uniformity, even when it feels so comfortable. We really are being asked, and yes, forced, to look deeper right now. It’s time to break out of the comfort zone and look to the new possibilities, ideas that are much more equitable in every sector. It is my hope that people are waking up to their own personal responsibility and that they will realize how important it is to connect with their children, family in general, and the world, in more meaningful ways. Those who already are doing this must be examples and be willing to speak up when it is called for in one-on-one encounters.

~ Patricia Berry

The other is this article she shared and it says it better than I could so why waste time? 🙂

Why Coronavirus Is Humanity’s Wake-Up Call by David Korten (3 minute read).

I don’t think things are ever going to go back to being the same way but then again, we did forget about the Spanish Flu, 100 years ago now, so who knows, maybe this will all be forgotten by December and we will watch it as a documentary or historical fiction.

“As a nation, we have for too long battled over simplistic political ideologies that limit our choices to granting ultimate power either to government or corporations, both of which are controlled by the richest among us. The coronavirus pandemic is a powerful reminder that effective government committed to the common good is essential to our well-being, and that there is no place in our common future for politicians committed to proving that government cannot work.”

P.S. Yes, I know Nietzsche probably needed a therapist and a barber to trim his mustache. But he had to say what he had to say for his times and even a broken clock is right twice a day as the saying goes.

P.P.S. Today is my father-in-law’s memorial. I know for a fact he is resting in peace and likely having a great time and wanting the same for all his loved ones.