Breath.

A letter to myself (and maybe you, too):

Take. A . Breath. 

And then maybe another three. 

In fact, feel free to KEEP breathing (you know, as deeply as your mask will allow 😉).

We are about to send our teachers and kids back into the classroom.  Everyone's prepping for it now. Many have been prepping for it for months now. And here are a few things I think we just need to get out in the open right now:

There are going to be new policies and procedures that you don't like. 

There are going to be problematic situations that arise. Many of these will, legitimately, have no great solution.

There are going to be people that think differently than you - and probably a few that don't appear thinking at all. 

It is going to be hard and feel different and sometimes uncomfortable. 

You are going to have to work hard, and think harder.

Everyone will be tired. Emotions will likely run high. 

So: 

Pause before you answer. Pause before you talk. Pause before you let your facial expression out to be seen (okay, that may be one benefit to my new mask I'll be wearing...). Pause. 

Pause and pray. Pause and check.

Check if your tone of voice makes what you're about to say hearable. While you're at it, check if what you're about to say is worth being said. 

Check if you've thought the problem through and thought about it from more than just your side ... because that's whats going to be necessary. 

Check and see if it you're thinking through the problem and possible solutions aloud or just whining. Oh, we'll all need a good vent every now and then ... But make sure your "vent group" is ready for a good vent and move forward session. And then don't forget the "move forward" part.

Check and see if you're focusing on the bad, or focusing on what you can do to make it as good as possible. 

Check and see if your attitude is in line with what God would have it to be. People, He didn't promise ease. But He did promise a life after this life that's better. So don't let this current hardship trip you up or throw you off your path.

Check and see if you're friends are okay. Some things are harder for some. Check and see who can handle your sarcasm and laugh and who needs your tender approach and patience. Check on the newbie, check on the veteran. Check in and offer what peace you can help find. Because if we've ever all been in this together, we certainly need to be now.

Check if you're remebering to breath through the problem, before you address the problem, and certainly before you address anyone else in the midst of what you perceive to be a problem.

Just breath. Please. Because everything seems a little better when you aren't suffocating.