Happy Friday Everyone,

Pulling back a rake to reveal a green swath of grass, the smell of fires swirling into the darkening November sky, and the first cold wind blowing down from the north make this time of year a season of change. In years past the transition felt slower and less chaotic. 

Being immersed in uncertainty and change means even the smallest frustration can push you over the edge. Each day can feel like raking leaves in a hurricane. No matter how hard we work, we just cannot get the results we want. Rake one spot clean, turn to rake another, and by the time you finish, the spot where you began is covered again with leaves. You know you are making progress, but you wish you could stop the wind: which – of course – you cannot.

Learning in high school for teenagers feels similar. So much is changing in their lives each day, physically, socially, emotionally, and intellectually. They live in a perpetual state of flux and uncertainty as they navigate their school work, their peer relationships, their changing bodies, and the dynamics of their family relationships. Add the learning of new material and the developing of new skills and you have the makings of a life that can feel overwhelming.

The key to any learning process is perseverance. You need to be able to absorb the confusion of not knowing. You need to overcome the insecurities that prevent you from asking for help. You need to be patient in waiting for the much delayed gratification that comes from studying something over an extended time before it makes sense. Along the way, it helps if others notice your efforts and take an interest in what you are learning.

Raking leaves in a hurricane makes a difference. It challenges us to focus on the action more than the outcome. Likewise learning as a teenager in a pandemic makes a difference. The kids are making progress by continuing with their studies. They are improving as writers, as readers, as thinkers, artists, athletes, and most importantly human beings. They are learning to live in the moment, to make something out of nothing, to reach out for help when they feel overwhelmed, to advocate for themselves, and to care for their friends. 

I wish everyone a long and restful Thanksgiving.

Peace,

Chris