Hi all!
Recently, several of you have been talking to me about how heavy you’ve been feeling about what’s going on in the world. I keep hearing the same refrain as we’re talking about academics and classes: “What is even the point of all this?” It’s a fair question, though rooted in an idea that assumes making a difference or mattering has to be some big, grand thing. The best answer – and perhaps the best (teacher-cliché) thing I can say – is that the point of all “this” is that you matter, and what you do, no matter how small, matters. Keep in mind that joy and beauty – in all its forms – can be powerful responses to hatred, instability, uncertainty, grief, and war. We often forget that and deny ourselves joy because we feel we are not allowed to experience it because others won’t or can’t. Sometimes living is hard, but we only get one shot (awwwww cue up some Eminem), y’all. So keep getting out of bed. Forget performativity. Listen to music. MAKE music. Sing. Write. Read. Tell stories. Go to a play or a concert. Dance. Talk to others. Share your fries. Laugh. Learn some shark facts. Touch grass. Take a walk. Feel the sun on your face. Pet a dog/cat/domesticated animal. Tell your people you love them.
And don’t be afraid to be a silly goose,
Dr. Lacey