{"id":258,"date":"2020-04-07T19:59:23","date_gmt":"2020-04-07T19:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/cothran-center-vocational-reflection\/?post_type=furman-update&p=258"},"modified":"2020-04-07T20:09:49","modified_gmt":"2020-04-07T20:09:49","slug":"all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-during-a-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"furman-update","link":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/cothran-center-vocational-reflection\/reflections\/all-i-really-need-to-know-i-learned-during-a-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"All I Really Need to Know I Learned During a Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly 35 years ago, author Robert Fulghum gave us the now well-known book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten<\/em>.\u00a0 In the book he describes how the simple lessons he was taught in kindergarten (share, don\u2019t hit people, take a nap every afternoon, etc) continued to have significance throughout his life.\u00a0 The subtitle of his book is \u201cUncommon Thoughts on Common Things.\u201d<\/p>\n

I have borrowed Fulghum\u2019s sentiment in giving this reflection the title, \u201cAll I Really Need to Know I Learned During a Pandemic.\u201d\u00a0 If I were to have a subtitle, mine would be \u201cCommon Thoughts During Uncommon Times.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUncommon times\u201d is an understatement, isn\u2019t it?\u00a0 Campuses are empty and are being described as ghost towns.\u00a0 School buses are running, but the only passengers are the prepared meals that are being delivered to students who need them.\u00a0 Stores are closing (some temporarily, some permanently).\u00a0 There is even speculation that there may be no football in the fall.\u00a0 You know things are bad when that happens.<\/p>\n

Of course, the primary thing on our minds is health and safety — of ourselves, our families, our neighbors, and all of the helpers who inspire us each day.\u00a0 These are uncommon times, for sure.<\/p>\n

This situation has been the source of many lessons for me, and I would like to share some of these with you.\u00a0 Some of my observations are silly and some are serious — but regardless of the circumstances that taught me, the lessons themselves have been profound, at least for me.<\/p>\n

In an effort to keep this at a reasonable length, I will share the first several lessons now and save the rest for next week.<\/p>\n

So here we go.\u00a0 During this strange time of quarantines, social distancing, and precautionary living, I have learned \u2026<\/p>\n

1. That the first step in a project does not have to be to buy something.<\/strong> When I embark on a new project at home (a repair or improvement of some kind), my first thought is usually \u201cwhat can I buy to make this work?\u201d\u00a0 These days, running out to the store isn\u2019t advisable (or even possible in some cases), and so I have been forced to start the process with more creative thinking.\u00a0 What do I already have that can help with this?\u00a0 Perhaps that is how I should always start a project.<\/p>\n

2. That I will be just fine if my first choices aren\u2019t available.<\/strong> We ran out of my favorite snack recently (KIND bars, if you are interested).\u00a0 A few weeks ago I would have gone right to the grocery store to remedy this situation.\u00a0 This being now, that wasn\u2019t possible.\u00a0 I took a second look in the cabinet and found some other options.\u00a0 Good stewardship matters.<\/p>\n

3. That some things really don\u2019t matter.<\/strong> I don\u2019t like the way my thick hair looks when it gets long and bushy, and I winced when I first realized that I won\u2019t be able to get a haircut for a while. \u00a0While this initial reaction is embarrassing to admit, I am glad to report that I am over it now.\u00a0 In the grand scheme of things, this, of course, is of very little concern.\u00a0 You may think differently when you see me, but I trust that the sight will be a reminder to you that some things really don\u2019t matter.<\/p>\n

4. That some things really do matter.<\/strong> Although I am fortunate to be with my family during this time, there is still a longing to see other people — other family, friends, etc.\u00a0 I think others are feeling this, too.\u00a0 I notice this in the first few seconds of every meeting on Zoom.\u00a0 Eyes light up when each new face appears.\u00a0 It is good to see and interact with people.\u00a0 I also notice it when I am out for a walk or a run in the neighborhood.\u00a0 I\u2019ve noticed an increased number of waves and acknowledgements.\u00a0 People want to be with people.\u00a0 That matters.<\/p>\n

5. That light can be found in the darkest of times. <\/strong>The children\u2019s television icon, Mr. Rogers, was the source of many profound insights.\u00a0 Our current situation reminds me of a favorite quotation from him.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, \u2018Look for the helpers.\u00a0 You will always find people who are helping.\u2019 To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother\u2019s words and I am always comforted by realizing that there are still so many helpers\u2014so many caring people in this world.\u201d<\/p>\n

Look for the helpers.\u00a0 They are everywhere — and in the mirror.<\/p>\n

Thanks for letting me share these thoughts with you.\u00a0 I\u2019ll share a few more lessons next week.\u00a0 To paraphrase Mr. Rogers\u2019s closing song: \u201cI’ll be back, when the week is new, and I’ll have more ideas for you. You\u2019ll have things that you\u2019ll have learned about.\u00a0 I will, too.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Nearly 35 years ago, author Robert Fulghum gave us the now well-known book All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten.\u00a0 In the book he describes how the simple lessons he was taught in kindergarten (share, don\u2019t hit people, take a nap every afternoon, etc) continued to have significance throughout his life.\u00a0 The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":261,"template":"","update-categories":[330],"class_list":["post-258","furman-update","type-furman-update","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","furman-update-category-john"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/cothran-center-vocational-reflection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reflections\/258","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/cothran-center-vocational-reflection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reflections"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/cothran-center-vocational-reflection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/furman-update"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/cothran-center-vocational-reflection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/reflections\/258\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/cothran-center-vocational-reflection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/261"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/cothran-center-vocational-reflection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=258"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"furman-update-category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.furman.edu\/cothran-center-vocational-reflection\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/update-categories?post=258"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}