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I think we can all agree that every September brings a lot of new things – new schools, new uniforms, new teachers, new rules and regulations.
In fact, our young people deal with newness all the time, for as we know, change is a constant in the process of growing up.
One could argue that the difference this year is that schools, places of work and education have, for many, lost some of their sense of dependability – we know schools have opened, but whether they remain open is yet to be seen.
Positive
When I’m faced with uncertainty like this, I set my mind to finding a certainty, a positive if you will, and in current circumstances, I find it helpful to ask myself – what has not changed this September?
Well in my house, alarm time hasn’t changed, the Monday to Friday nature of schooling hasn’t changed, the dreaded prep for school lunches hasn’t changed, the drive/walk/commute to school hasn’t changed and so I focus on that in lieu of the hysteria about how things will “just never, ever be the same again!”
I understand, of course, that if you or your child are starting a new chapter in school life, be that primary, secondary or third level, then potentially there are a lot of changes involved in this scenario and in circumstances like these.
In my experience, focusing on the growth you’ve been through to get to this point can be both reassuring and beneficial.
Outlining the exciting prospects and opportunities that you’re facing into and how wonderful they are can be really steadying in an uncertain time.
In light of the fact that all these new regulations in school settings might initially be difficult to adjust to, I’d suggest patience in allowing yourself or your child to adjust to new things and then pragmatically give it a month or six weeks.
Outlining the exciting prospects and opportunities that you’re facing into and how wonderful they are can be really steadying in an uncertain time
I have no doubt that all these current changes are things that we will become accustomed to and our sense of trepidation around them will ease.
In the meantime, I’d recommend directing your attention towards noticing the good, the steady and the joyful parts of this new September landscape.
Mindfulness exercise
Write out all the things that haven’t changed in your life, all the things that remain the same and read it over at night time before you go to sleep and in the morning before you start your day. You might be really surprised to find that you’ll be adding to this list often, as this practice encourages yourself and your child to really notice positive aspects of the day that have been unaffected by COVID-19.
Things like how much you really enjoy being with your friends in school, how the bus driver is still themselves beneath that face covering and how children can still find amusement in the most mundane of events.
You know, those instances that give rise to the affirmation that school days really are the best days of your life.
Physical exercise
As always, let’s look at a bit of movement here, for as we know, stillness is great for our minds but movement is great for our bodies, so it’s crucial we find a balance between both movement and stillness in our everyday life.
I’d suggest going for a walk in nature every day this month and noticing how the physical landscape is changing as we prepare for winter.
Also, pay attention to the things that remain constant in the landscape and really build an appreciation for how change and constancy can co-exist.
Life is not made up of one or the other, but both, and when we feel a little wobbly about all the change and uncertainty, we can choose to direct our attention to what we recognise as constant and that can help us to feel a little bit more resilient in the face of our current adversity.
Something to ponder
If you’re looking for a problem, have no doubt you’ll find it, but the converse is also true. If you’re looking for the positive, it’s sure to put in an appearance too.
Trust the practice and remember that despite all the bad news and uncertainty, it remains true that the world is a good place.
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