Our nation needs informed citizens

President Mary Dana Hinton in Chronicle of Higher Ed (emphasis added):

"In addition, this learning disruption [from COVID] has powerful meaning for our frail democracy, for which an educated populace is essential. As Benjamin Rush stated in 1786, “Freedom can exist only in the society of knowledge. Without learning, [wo]men are incapable of knowing their rights, and where learning is confined to a few people, liberty can be neither equal nor universal.” Our nation needs informed citizens, and higher education has a vital role to play."

Strategic Retreat

After a session on Thursday evening that left me in an active PTSD state, the healing weekend was a requirement. I checked in with my team, and more rest is required, so I'm taking two weeks to recover and reset and heal. 

 

Today's massage therapy was intense. I'm continually amazed  by the body's ability to store trauma physically.  Thank goodness for Courtney, who knows how to help everything start to let go.

 

Once home, I put on a short playlist and chopped onion, garlic and mushrooms while the butter melted. The chicken seared while I chopped green beans, and the whole thing was ready quick as three songs.

I think I have just enough energy to send some out of office emails 

 

while I eat. An extended nap is in order.

It doesn't have to be this way

Went to the Back of Beyond and had a beautiful, centering, spirit-filled day of usefulness and good conversation, away from electronics and cell service, focused on small things like weeds, the handle of the hoe in my hand, the sun on my back, the bee beside me toying with my hair as I worked.

As I drove back down the mountain, the cell phone came alive, pinging with headlines and notifications, tales of YetAnotherSchoolShooting, violence and mayhem, doubt and suffering. Why? Why are we like this?

It doesn't have to be this way.