I’ve always been a huge proponent of education, generally and specifically. What does that mean? Well, I believe that people should educate themselves about the world in whatever way suits them and their individual learning style and needs. Unlike others, I do not believe education is a one-size-fits-all scenario. Not everyone is a match for a college education. Some are meant to be educated through trade or professional school, on the job, or just through the experience of living each day as it comes. I have been fortunate enough to receive an undergraduate and two graduate school educations and the respective degrees. However, I’ve also had the great privilege of learning through my travel, work, and well, reading.
In addition to this capital E education that I speak of, I believe it is incumbent upon each of us to educate ourselves (again, as we are suited) based on the situations and challenges we are faced with in life. I know that this is just my perspective and I am not suggesting that you need to subscribe to it. I truly live by and believe in the ‘to each his/her own’ motto. However, I can attest to the fact that educating myself when I’ve been faced with life’s trials, has been incredibly valuable. I do mean this across the board; relationships, professional life, nutrition, fitness, health, and so on and so forth.
Each situation has presented me with the opportunity to sort out exactly how to “tweak” my learning style and approach. Do I need to speak with a professional? Should I read what the Internet has to offer or perhaps seek an actual book from the library? Should I speak with a friend or family member or professional acquaintance who has faced with the same situation? The answer is mostly changeable and there is something nice about that. I get to embark on the most meaningful self-exploration exercise when each of these situations present. In each instance, I discover what learning tools and techniques work for me and what does not really suit me.
This incredible challenging time is in many ways no different from any of the situations I am thinking of when sharing above. There are two slightly nuanced considerations that are not necessarily unique to this crisis we are all facing, but that are perhaps more profound. I want to share them with you and then I want to explain how I am navigating through them (or around them, if necessary). First, we have to determine what information is meaningful and truthful or at least is intended to be, and what information is horseshit and propaganda. Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, we need to determine how much information is useful and how much information is harmful and detrimental to our mental health. In other words, we need to find our own individual threshold.
The first part of what I am speaking to is tricky and I am going to do my best not to get political. I have my own very specific and personal views concerning how all of this is being handled on a state and federal level. If you want to talk about it (reasonably), feel free to reach out. This blog is not a place where I need to share those views. That said, it is of paramount importance to recognize that much of the information we will be presented with is opinion and speculation. Yes, I said much. I am not a conspiracy theorist and I am not here trying to make you paranoid. I am inviting you to take a closer examination at who and what you are listening to in order to keep things in perspective. You are welcome to listen to someone espouse his or her opinion but you should be able to identify it as such.
Okay, I want to disclaimer for a moment. I believe in science and medicine. I am not apologizing for this and I would ask that you not debate me on this point. If you don’t believe in such, I respect your right to feel the way you do. I am asking that you extend me the same courtesy. You may or may not want to continue reading. I think I can offer you some interesting thoughts, regardless of whether we align, but that, my friend, is entirely up to you.
When someone reputable from the scientific or medical community is speaking right now (i.e. Fauci, where I am concerned), I am apt to consider this fact(s). I feel the same as the health care workers who I know personally who are risking their lives on the front line and share information with me. Opinion typically reads with “I feel” “I think” “I want” “Seems like” “Appears” etc. Facts are usually devoid of such ‘add ons’ or linked adjectives. Let me give you an example. I think things are getting better is an opinion. Cases are increasing daily is a fact. You see what I mean?
I am not suggesting that it is always easy to tell a fact from an opinion, particularly today. Particularly because we have leaders and significant figures who seem to mash the two together in big soupy clusterfuck confusion pie. I am only offering a gentle recommendation that you try and discern between the two. Why? Because if you hang your hat on an opinion without understanding it as such, it could put you in a bad spot emotionally. False hope and unnecessary fear are possible results that could arise from a decision not to evaluate. You don’t have to examine in this way I am suggesting, but just know what the consequences could be and come to a place of acceptance.
The second bit is somewhat more challenging, believe it or not. During the 2016 election, I recall shouting into the phone for my mother to turn off MSNBC. Again, this is NOT about politics. This is simply an example. I was half joking when I did this and half serious. She had gotten a case of what I affectionately call the news nerves. Information overload. She was desperately trying to stay educated on the state of things and in the process, she over-educated. She was saturated beyond reason. A couple of things happen when this occurs. It becomes more challenging to accomplish my first suggestion above (discerning between fact and opinion). It also can become an anxiety-provoking situation. We are often left wondering what do we do now? How do we change things or stop _____ from happening? We doomsday the shit out of everything. We spiral into hopelessness. We feel trapped. Yes, I am very serious. All of these things occur.
How do we find our own personal threshold? Well, it is a similar exercise that I provide to my yoga students. Close your eyes for a moment and ask yourself that question. Are you armed with enough information at present to go forth? Do you feel uninformed? Is new information feeling like old information? Are you more worried than interested? I am not saying you won’t feel stressed or overwhelmed. Sadly, those are emotions you are going to experience right now. I am saying find your balance. Find the place where you feel educated enough and you can pause. Be creative, connect, or take a walk. Find other activities to fill your time and other thoughts to occupy your mind.
I asked my sister if she had heard a particular speech yesterday. She responded that she had heard about it but she was feeling anxious so she elected not to watch it. Hot DAMN folks. That’s what I’m fucking talking about. She found her threshold. No one should judge your ‘this much and no more’ line. If they do, you might want to move them further than 6’ away from you…for like longer than a month or two. Just saying.
Hang in there. Talk to you tomorrow.
L.
thepathtoworthy.com 