Never Easy

Sometimes in this life, we feel that a small thing to do is not as easy as it seems. Take for example, wearing a mask. It looks very easy. You just need to wear that onto the areas of nose and mouth.

What makes it difficult?

Number one is your worries. You worry about having some difficulties in breathing. You worry about your being unable to show your sweet smile. You worry about your listeners' inability to read your mouth.

Number two is the never ending regulation change from the authority about wearing the mask. The first time the regulation showed up, a specific kind of mask had to be worn; not just some random type of mask that you could find anywhere. Then not long after that, the regulation changed; it was okay to wear any kind as long as you still wore a mask. The latest change of that effing regulation is about wearing a mask of minimum two layers.

Is this some kind of the authority's joke? Why are they trying to make an easy thing feel difficult?

How I Minimize Exhaustion from Teaching Online

I assume most people, especially those who have just started teaching virtually, experience exhaustion because of the virtual exposure, whether it's from online meetings or from too many social media acitivities.

I have heard from other teachers that they even have to see an oculist because of their too much exposure to the screen. They suffer from dry eyes and blurry vision. I don't have any ideas about when this covid19 crisis ends, but if this online education continues, the eyesight problem will be worse and worse.

I am talking nonsense if I say that virtual teaching is no big deal for me. As a middle-aged woman, eye-related problems must always happen. Those problems get worse with those virtual exposures. Sitting for some hours while looking at the screen and listening to the students' voice which is often unclear because of the internet reception makes my body extremely exhausted.

However, I am not the type of person who is so glued to the screen when dealing with social media activities. That saves my eyes from the screen. 

When preparing some lessons to teach, I make some notes or reminders about what to create when working on some slides. That saves me from looking at the monitor fo too long.

Then when it comes to Google Meet session with students, I still become the real me, who is okay to laugh outloud with them when there is something funny, who always wants to really listen to what they want to say, and who will always be ready to be their friend to practice. In that way, Google Meet session feels just like the real, face to face meeting.

The Priceless Pleasure

Have you ever been in a situation where you feel so overwhelmed by your being a human as a total whole? It's not as noble as doing great for humanity. It's just doing something very trivial. But this trivial thing you are doing makes you feel and realize how great it is to be a human.

One person that I know once said to me about her being in ecstasy when she could get good stuff from her favorite online shop with a reasonable price. Another person I know once also told me that he could feel very satisfied if he could capture a moment with his camera.

That moment when you get that feeling, I am not exaggerating if I say that you feel as if an umbrella were opening up in your heart. Or you could feel as if a big flower were blooming gradually inside your heart. I really hope you have felt that even if it is only once in your lifetime. What a joyful life you have if you often experience that feeling when you do random, trivial things. What a priceless pleasure you get.

I have found one priceless pleasure from doing one trivial thing. When I water the front yard and the back yard of my house, there is always an indescribable  sensation coming to my chest everytime the water splashes the leaves and the grasses. It feels like those trees and grasses are thankful to the water spraying them. And that leads my heart to smile, as if a big flower were blooming inside.

Why Good People Leave

 I am writing this because a good friend of mine, who is also a caring teacher for his students, has decided to end his career at teaching. Deciding to start a new business instead of continuing his teaching career elsewhere is a brave thing. I don't even have that gut. However, with that decision he has made and with his talent he possesses, I am definitely and positively sure that he is going to be able to succeed.

What has got me thinking is about his love and dedication to teach and care about his students. He is so passionate about that. What on earth made him let go of that passion?

Perhaps, good teachers leave the educational institution where they teach because of one very strong principle. They are not leaving the organization. They are not purely letting go of their passion to teach. They are just leaving some certain individuals whose way of thinking is not in line with their way of thinking. Their pure intention in educating students is interfered with other, non-educational intentions. 

That's all I am saying. Any reasons he has, I am still sad that he's resigned.