A Light in the Distance

Hello,

It's been a long time since I've posted. If you're new to That's So Wanda, please know that it's usually focused on creating empathy by sharing my mistakes, so we can all laugh, relax a bit, and know that we're all in this together (bonus points to all the High School Musical fans now hearing that song in your heads). I never run out of mistakes or situations to share, but today I'd like to share some encouragement and light for everyone stressed out, lonely, frustrated by unemployment, underemployment, furloughs, COVID restrictions, COVID cases, long lines for testing, flu season, virtual holidays, Zoom/Blackboard/GoToMeeting fatigue, virtual teaching or student-ing, and more. I can't solve it all, or maybe any of it. I can only offer encouragement, so here it is.

When people say that kids and college students experiencing this time period will never recover, "they" are wrong. This is not a lost generation. It is likely a 1-2 year difficult time from which our youth will emerge, recover, and work hard to keep their future kids from ever experiencing again. They will design new technologies, new service delivery methods, new ways of paying for things, new ways of disinfecting/purifying/sanitizing, and new ways to have fun with other people. They are learning to be resilient and to cherish human life, in all of its diverse forms.

Just about every adult living now has survived a rough year or two in the past - high school, divorce, illness, unemployment. I know I have! I am better, stronger, more resilient, more appreciative, and most of all kinder now. Kinder with myself, and kinder with others. I'm a praying woman, so I pray that the widespread loss of lives due to COVID-19 is nearing an end. I am also praying that all of us who survive it emerge thankful and kinder than we were before. It's okay if you're of a different faith/race/gender or don't identify with any of those categories. You can still be thankful and kind, and appreciate surviving.

While we're at it, I call BS on all talk of how this is the end of higher education (or retail, or the arts). Like any industry, higher education institutions will evolve or perish. That is true for any longstanding institution or business, all the time. Schools that don't change with the times won't last, and those who change to meet their clientele in the current time will. Higher education will still exist, but in new and exciting ways, and then they'll change again and again. Retail will still exist, because people will always want and need to buy things. The arts have survived wars, revolutions, pandemics, turbulent elections, and more.

I won't lie and say this is easy. I won't lie and say I don't also struggle with anxiety and depression. I will say that I hope each of you will do what you must to stay healthy and survive this time. I will be sending love, light, and for those who want them prayers for as many of us as possible to be here when the pandemic ends. Our kids will struggle, but are not and will not be lost. Education will survive. Retail will survive. The arts will survive. For all these things, and for all of you, I am truly thankful.

There is enough darkness right now. I want to be the light. I'll have my moments of despair, but when I recover, I will again be a light to help you through. I hope you will be, too, at the times when you're able.