A Thankful Day. A Thanksgiving Greeting to the Space EdVenturing Family.

      

     When it comes to a perfect representation of a horrible year, 2020 stands out in a crowded room of masterpieces like 1929, 1939, and 1865; and begging not to be overlooked is 1968. You see it over there, breathing asthmatically in a dim corner of the modern wing in the contemporary section. Forgive me for not defending my reasoning for those choices, but because of today's focus on thankfulness, let me redirect your attention back to the subject at hand, 2020. There it sits on its weathered easel beconning our tired eyes to travel down its broad covid brush strokes and through the layers of dark sinister overtones. Is there a silver lining framing those tempestuous clouds?

  2020 has reminded me of one simple fact, there are things I cannot control.  And because I can't control them, those vexing itches that want scratching are best left alone so not to fester.

     I can't control the eventual outcome of our last election so I will leave it to those who can.  What I can control is how I treat my family and friends on both sides of the political spectrum, people whom I am grateful for at this time of year.  I can listen respectfully. I can speak calmly and in the end, we can cordially agree to disagree and then change the subject to those memories that brought us together over the years.  And don't forget the weather and those aches and pains of advanced age.

     I can't control your relationship with God, or whether or not you believe in this creed or that. But I can listen respectfully and remember that we are all in this together, and that my truth today may or may not be yours, but it may be tomorrow, or even the next day, or perhaps never.  We walk our own path through life, learning what we need to learn in our own time. And while your lessons are for you to learn, I can choose to walk some of the way with you, just in case we need each other to navigate a rough patch.

     I can't control the national economy, but I can control my own personal spending and saving.  I can't control the home lives of my students, but I can control how I treat and respect them while they are in my care.  I can't control the government's response to the virus, but I can control how I handle my personal responsibility in the care of my fellow human being.  In the end I can't control how people treat me, but I can control how I treat them. 

     I'm thankful for that simple truth it has taken me decades to learn (putting into practice is an ongoing effort): I'm only truly in control of myself.  I can make MY world a better place by showing kindness and gratitude and do my best to not let those things I cannot control take root in my soul. 

      The silver lining of 2020 are the people who've walked some of this year with me.  Thank you to my family and friends.  Thank you to my co-workers and students.  Sixth graders have a way of keeping you focused on the most basic of life's lessons, 'You treat me with kindness and respect and I'll do the same'.  Thank you to the wonderful people who work and volunteer in the happiest places on earth, the space centers, Dream Flight Adventures, and InfiniD.  The dream continues!

     And so we soldier on.  Let's work to keep the worlds we control kind and happy places.

Victor