News from Mr Grady
Hello Everyone!
It occurred to me, minutes after last week's newsletter went live, that as it was going out on the 23rd April, I could have mentioned Shakespeare's birthday. Or I could have talked about St George's Day. The fact that I forget to mention Shakespeare means that I hang my head in shame as an English teacher. I mean, I could have got hundreds of words out of Shakespeare. None better than his own, but there you are. Of course, it means that I've got plenty to talk about in the newsletter this time next year!
And that in itself, is perhaps something to be pleased about. I'd forgotten these two quite large things in the calendar, because at the moment, I suspect we feel as though we can't do much about the bigger things, but can really focus on the smaller things. So talking about listening to birdsong, and improving my listening last week, was something I could control, and so it was something at the forefront of my mind.
We could all drive ourselves potty thinking about, reflecting on, and trying to control all those large things in our life that are happening to us all, but the important thing, I think, is perhaps to try (I say try - this isn't always easy) to only worry about the things you can actually control.
I know I can spend inordinate amounts of time winding myself up, adding anxiety I don't need by speculating and indeed having discussions about all sorts of things that I have no control over, and worse, encouraging other people to have conversations about things none of us have any control over, whilst at the same time ignoring the things I could actually be productively doing!
The cooker needs cleaning. I've looked at it every day for a fortnight. It needs a proper clean. I know that if I clean it, which will take about an hour, that every time I cook in it or on it I'll feel really good about myself, and I'm likely not to get food-poisoning. BUT INSTEAD I spent 45 minutes today scrolling through a load of social media posts and online articles, speculating and not getting any answers to things over which I have no control, and at the same time not feeling any better. I then had to cook my lunch, and felt doubly bad.
I will assume you all have stories like this at the moment, and, as I get out the oven-cleaner and the rubber gloves, I can only urge you to take pleasure in the small things we can achieve. You'll feel better for it!
I hope you are all staying well and safe,
Best wishes,
Mr Grady