Author: kate

Do things feel off to you?

Weird? Maybe in an unexplainable way? Like, life just doesn’t feel right, but you don’t know why?

Ask questions. Seek answers…not what’s on the surface, but answers that truly make sense in your gut. Because things are not what they appear to be. And we are not as divided as we are led to believe.

I believe regular folks — and by that, I mean most people you meet on a daily basis, no matter what nationality, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, political or religious belief, etc. — are generally good. Just doing the best they can for themselves and for their families. 

And, in real life, I think most of us can say that nobody we meet face-to-face gives us much trouble. 

I don’t know about you, but the stuff I have the hardest time with are things like, health insurance. The mortgage. Taxes. The cost of groceries and gas. Toxins and chemicals in our environment. These are the troubles many of us have in common, yes? All of which are mostly under the control of big corporations, big companies, big banks, and/or big industry. 

So, really? I kinda resent all of this division delivered to us every day on TV. It seems to me like a giant distraction. Because it’s not my fellow American I take issue with — it’s all of the big corporations, companies, banks, and industry practices that keep us from getting ahead. From securing our futures. From keeping ourselves and our loved ones healthy and safe.

Sure, there’s conflict amongst people. We’re human. It happens. But, I have a hard time believing it’s as bad as it’s made out to be — and I have a hard time believing that, were it not for the media telling stories, we would really have much to fight about amongst ourselves at all.

But then — and I suspect that this is the thing big companies and corporations fear the most — we’d ALL, as one united country, be able to focus on the stuff that’s REALLY wrong with our society and have the collective power to fix it.

Together.

Things are not always what they seem. And, for better or for worse, history tends to repeat itself.

I’m a big fan of historical dramas. Namely, stories centered around British royal families. As a certified history and English teacher, I suppose that’s true to form.

Since this pandemic began in March, I’ve gone from watching The White Queen, The White Princess, The Spanish Princess, The Tudors, to now, The Crown.

(With only a slight deviation when watching The Borgias.)

Between watching shows, teaching history, and obsessing over assorted readings about British history, there‘s one major thing I’ve learned: As much as times change, much stays the same. Because human nature is the one constant element in this ongoing experiment.

And, as dictated by human nature, those with power and privilege are often not what they appear to be. Underneath the polished image, there can be greed, corruption, power struggles, deception, and a whole host of other things that distort the character of true leadership. 

Like an apple, what can appear good on the outside might actually be rotten at its core. And sometimes, an ugly or bruised apple can still be added in a recipe that produces the most delicious pie. 

In short, while it may look like someone or something is working for our better interests, look a little harder. Just to be sure.

Because past informs the present. And right now, we can’t afford to forget that.

I grew up with a certain, and very specific, plan for my life.

I thought that was what I wanted. You know, college, marriage, house, babies, career success, retirement, travel, grandbabies… I had it ALL laid out.

But then, as they say, life happened. All kinds of plans were thrown out the window.

And, oh, was I panicked. I went through such a period of growing pains in my early 30’s. I’m not gonna lie — going through it was kind of a nightmare.

However, I’m super grateful for it, all the same.

It led me to re-examine my life choices. All of the time I spent making plans and setting down a laundry list of crazy expectations for my life. And I say “crazy” now because, while the plans themselves were relatively realistic, planning decades in advance is legit insane — and not a little bit controlling. Also? To have your whole life planned out in advance is SUPER boring. What if some amazing opportunity comes along that is TOTALLY off the beaten path of your life’s plan? Because you don’t know the outcome, will you avoid taking the risk?

Will you, unknowingly, reject the purpose of your life, just because it’s not “part of the plan”?

I’ve learned that while letting go and embracing the present can be tough — and maybe something many think can’t be done — it’s actually necessary.

COVID-19 is teaching us ALL this, am I right? What plans have been completely altered because of the pandemic?

Circumstances change, people change, and the only thing we can control is our own reaction to these changes. Roll WITH them, and grow FROM them.

Or sink.

As Oprah once said, “Doing the best you can in this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”

I think that’s all we can really do. Focus on doing our best now, so that our future is set up for success. After all (to throw out yet another cliche), success is where hard work and opportunity meet.

And life is to be enjoyed.