Cracker Jacks Gave Me Hope!

Shoot, this is just crazy! So much has been postponed, closed or cancelled. But wait! Not everything has been postponed, closed or cancelled.

Guess what? COVID-19 has not shut down LOVE. Love has not been postponed, closed or cancelled!

Guess what? COVID-19 has not shut down HOPE. Hope has not been postponed, closed or canceled.

Guess what? COVID-19 has not shut down SELF-CARE. Self-care has not been postponed, closed or canceled.

Guess what? COVID-19 has not shut down CARING FOR OTHERS. Caring for others has not been postponed, closed or canceled.

Right now is an opportunity to invest...in the little things that matter most. The human experience called life is filled with love, passion, creativity, joy, connection, compassion, laughter…and the taste of Cracker Jacks! Yes, I said Cracker Jacks! I went to my classroom today since we have been teaching remotely for 6 weeks. As I was cleaning my desk drawers out I found about 10 boxes of Cracker Jacks I had planned to award to our winning kickball team on the last day of school. My students and I will not get to experience this fun Cracker Jacks opportunity because of COVID-19. So, I sat down in my classroom and opened up a box of Cracker Jacks and began to snack on them as I thought about this school year and my amazing students. I smiled, laughed and even teared-up. I said to myself, "Hey COVID-19, you will not win! Why? As human beings we have learned, evolved and grown through life’s ups and downs, our life experiences have included tons of difficult situations and seasons for centuries." It was at that moment that my love for history came to life and I realized that it was 75 years ago that World War II had just ended. Wow! Just like that generation who showed grit and endured the 2nd World War, we too will show grit and endure the COVID-19 war.

Love, hope, self-care and caring for others will not be postponed, closed or cancelled!