Oh, my— what an April this has been! A rollercoaster of emotions with concerns about health, the economy, and how to proceed with care. Here in rural New Mexico, the nearby communities of the Zuni Pueblo and the Navajo Nation have been hit hard by the coronavirus. Many families live without electricity and/or running water; some have running water, but no hot water heater. Makes hand-washing a challenge at best. Oftentimes, families live together in multi-generational homes, and cousins are as close as siblings. Many of my students are Navajo and Zuni, and an added challenge of remote teaching/remote learning is knowing that some families cannot be reached due to poor internet and cell service, so it all feels inequitable and a bit hopeless, especially with recent spike of Covid-19 cases in this area. To combat this feeling of hopelessness, I’ve been taking a bit of time each day to do something that I would not usually have time to do on a normal work day— writing a note or a postcard to a friend, making a personal phone call, reading a poem, making handmade soap or candles, and taking a driveway walk. I’ve been calling this practice a “bouquet a day.” Just something simple and sincere to add a ‘sweet fragrance’ to compliment the day and bring a bit of counterbalance to the difficult and stressful news that overwhelms the airways. I hope that you, too, can glean some delight from the little things. Here’s to a mindful May!
