Today We Are All Spartans

My Thoughts About The Chaos in This World.

Life was hard enough growing up 40+ years ago without technology and social media and today’s problems. I’ve lived with anxiety my entire life – even when I didn’t know that’s what it was! And that was without the issues we see today.

Todays kids amaze me. Living through Covid. Quite honestly, they handled it better than most adults I know – including myself!

Bomb threats. Mass shootings.

And those are the “big” things.

We see bullying all day every day.

Dak Prescott receiving the Walter Payton Man Of the Year Award was my Superbowl highlight. And then he got booed. I’m absolutely disgusted at this poor display of behavior.

There are plenty of teams I don’t like. Plenty of players. I don’t have to make a public display of my dislike.

Here’s a funny side note that relates, I promise. I didn’t have any social media before moving to Colorado – and when I did, I still had no clue what if was for or what I was doing with it.

Let’s be real, I don’t know that much more now. I’m kidding. I’ve come a LONG way.

So, at some point, I posted something about Michigan and our Spartan rivalry. I unintentionally offended some friends and immediately took the post down. I also apologized and learned a LOT from that mistake.

Words have power. And I wasn’t booing or intentionally insulting and I still insulted. Through an innocent, honest mistake.

So look at the power words actually intended to insult have. I will never boo an athlete. I won’t cheer for my rival, obviously, but I also won’t boo them or celebrate their losses or injuries. It disgusts me.

Rivals always. But more importantly humans.

On to Rihanna.

Monday, my social media feeds were full of people judging. Critiquing.

If you loved her, if you didn’t – that’s fine.

There are plenty of things I don’t love that you might adore. But why are people absolutely bashing her publicly?

Body shaming?

Do you know what it takes to get on a stage? On national television nonetheless.

But please don’t impose it on me or anyone else. Words have power.

Please don’t use unkind words. If you can’t think of any kind or neutral words – just say nothing! It’s that simple.

I watch The Superbowl to enjoy the game. We don’t always see such a high scoring, competitive, fun, entertaining game.

Let’s talk about the hard work. Let’s talk about the players. The commercials. (Ironically, I am just now watching Breaking Bad, so weeks ago the Doritos commercial would’ve gone right over my head!) How about the first ever all female fly over? Women really can do it all!

Let’s lift each other up instead of tearing others down.

I really don’t understand it.

I had a picture in my Livonia, Michigan office that read “Everything I need to know I learned in kindergarten.”

It’s to this day accurate.

Is it a surprise?

I’m not saying these things are directly connected – I’m not saying that words alone caused someone to pick up a gun and shoot complete strangers.

But I am saying that we have got to STOP tolerating all of this behavior.

Booing.

Body shaming. 

Judging.

Bullying.

Tearing others down.

 We can’t spend minutes sharing our shock and horror; and then return to life as it was.

And while focusing on voting and gun laws matters, we need to do something today.

Talk to your bosses, your teachers, your colleagues. What can you do today to let people know that this time is different. That you are different.

Is it holding a staff meeting to see how everyone is doing?

Is it moving the lesson plan to another day and allowing your students to talk. About anything. About their feelings.

Is it bringing in a trained professional to offer support to your staff?

Is it changing deadlines?