News from Mr Grady
Hello Everyone,
We talk a lot, in these current times about “just taking everything day by day” (or indeed, hour by hour, or, in those really desperate situations, minute by minute!) and I am heartily behind this approach. It is a very positive thing to simply concentrate on the day in front of you, taking the rough with the smooth, but taking the time each day to acknowledge something positive that has happened. And yes, I know this sometimes feels very difficult, and even someone suggesting that you “take time to enjoy the positives” can, on occasion drive you into a rage. I’m the same, but it doesn’t stop the message itself not being a useful one. Like any decent habit, it takes practice, but pays off in the end, because all those days add up, and the marginal gain of each positive moment in each day does eventually offer a more positive outlook.
I noticed this especially today during my daily exercise on the exercise bike. I’ve spoken to students and staff in my daily emails about the personal challenge I’ve faced in ensuring that I keep to a regular regime of exercise, and I’ve developed a real love-hate relationship with that exercise bike!
What struck me today however, was not the exercise itself, nor the fact that for some reason my wife appears to have been secretly increasing the tension settings without my knowledge (I was not amused) but the fact that when I finished my exercise at around the usual time, it was light outside.
When I started doing my “pre-work” exercise in the poky room at the back of our house, it was pitch black outside for the entirety of the time on the bike. Indeed, it wasn’t light until sometime afterwards, but this morning, although I started in the dark, I looked up as I finished, and it was light. I’d not noticed, day by the slow change from Winter into the start of Spring, and it struck me that although taking everything “day by day” is absolutely necessary sometimes, what is equally necessary is taking the time to look up and see how far we’ve come – and in this case in a very short period.
It was a pleasant surprise to look up and see that it was light, and it made me think about each day’s exercise, how it must have been slowly building up without my notice, the marginal gains adding up to this morning’s shock of light and colour. If something as simple as daylight could have sneaked up on me during the workout, I wonder what else in the last few weeks we’ve managed to miss. As we approach half term (only one more week to go!) perhaps now is the chance to reflect back over the last half term, or at least plan when you might do so in the coming weeks. I know we have all achieved great things – but I think we should take the time to look up and back and appreciate that we have.
Stay well and safe everyone,
With very best wishes,
Mr Grady