News from Mr Grady
Hello Everyone,
I hope the holiday is treating you all well!
It's funny isn't it, how a change to your "normal" way of working can really bring in to focus the things that you consider to be important. So, for example, I always have a cup of coffee in my travel mug as I drive to work. Now I'm no longer regularly driving to work, I find that I must still have my coffee, or the day simply doesn't feel right. I'm fairly sure it's not the caffeine itself, but more the ritual of making and drinking coffee as the "start to the day."
Equally, even though I could successfully work outside the normal hours of the school day, I still find myself eating an apple or some sort of snack around 10:55 and having lunch between 1 and 2. Some things it seems are sacrosanct.
Interestingly though, given that I've worn a shirt and tie everyday for much of my 20-something years of teaching, I have had no compunction whatsoever in not wearing a single tie or shirt for the last 2 and a bit weeks. Shaving too it seems holds no such importance, and I'm writing this with nearly three whole weeks of beard edging its way across my face.
I bet you'll all have similar "non-negotiables" going on in your own lives, and I think it's quite revealing (to yourself mainly) what those non-negotiables are. I could successfully leave the washing up until there was not a single clean utensil, and then do it all in one go, but no, I find myself washing up after every meal. I could put the recycling out daily, but no, I'd rather wait until it's in a pile by the back door, nearly obscuring the cat-flap before I choose to act. There's no logic to those two opposing approaches.
I've no idea what these different standards say about me, but it's quite nice to have a bit of time to reflect and learn a little more about myself and my habits and my own standards, and the fact that there appears to be no rhyme or reason to them. Worryingly perhaps, it's the "there's no logic" bit that says more about me than anything else...
oh well.
Can't stop, as I can hear a cat trying to get past a variety of cardboard boxes and plastic bottles to the flap...
I hope you're all staying well and healthy,
Best wishes,
Mr Grady