Wednesday, July 15, 2020

Purpose

It's good to have a sense of purpose. After all these weeks of staying at home, feeling aimless and disconnected from the life we had pre-pandemic, it's nice to have a reason to get up in the morning and something to work towards. Even small things make a difference.

I've been up to the school several times in the last week. First of all, the principal called and asked me to come down to the school and if I'd do him a favor. Our phone system got updated and now there's a menu when you call, one of those "press 1 for so-and-so, press 2 for....." recordings. Since I do most of the morning and afternoon announcements, and everyone claims I have a great voice for it, the principal wanted me to be "the voice of the school" and record the menu options for the phones. I was happy to! I ended up having to drive down to the district office and meet with the head of technology to make the recordings, but it only took a few minutes. Later that afternoon, the principal called me up and gushed about what a great job he thought I'd done! This will actually benefit me more than anybody; I answer 90% of the calls to the school (maybe more) so this will divert a lot of those calls to the person they're meant for instead of going through the main office. Hooray! It's something we should've done years ago.

Then I spent all day at the school on Monday, helping Gregg set up the new aquarium in the lobby!  For those of you keeping up with this project, here are two photos I took after everything was up and running. Since the fish aren't in there yet, and two powerful filters are running, the water is so glossy clear that one of the passing custodians asked me if there was water in it yet!




I love the stark rocks and the spare aquascape that Gregg came up with! It mirrors the design of the tank, stand, and hood really well. It's going to look great once the Shubunkin goldfish arrive.

Even wholesale pet suppliers are experiencing disruptions in supply chains due to the pandemic, but Gregg was able to get a bundle of the goldfish into the pet store after calling a long time wholesaler contact in Atlanta and asking for a favor. He picked out the best dozen for our school. They're in a small tank at the store right now, but as soon as he's sure they're healthy they'll be coming to their new home! Eventually a 72 gallon tank (that's what this is) will be far too small for a dozen goldfish, but it'll be a while before they get that big. They're only 3-4 inches right now. The long term plan is to have either 3 or 5 large, wiggly, pet-like fish living in this tank, whichever ones grow out to be the prettiest. They should end up between 8-10 inches long in a few years if all goes well. Of course, Gregg will re-home any extras from the original dozen.


Shubunkin goldfish, stock photos:

See the source image


See the source image

The principal and the few staff members still working right now seem to love the new tank!
It's prominent in the lobby and should get a lot of attention when school reopens. Gregg was able to get us a good deal on everything, and he decided not to charge the school for the labor to set the aquarium up. That and the tank itself is his gift to the school. I'm so proud of him! Of course, he'll be making a little extra money each month for maintaining a second tank, but even that he's cutting them a break on. My husband is a really good guy. :)

Helping him set up the new tank, recording the messages for the phone system, running by the school today to drop off an invoice for the bookkeeper....all this has kept me just busy enough in the last several days to make me feel better. I've still been struggling to find purpose in my days. If ever I thought a lot of time off work and time to stay at home sounded appealing, I've been disabused of that notion in the last four months. I hate sitting at home day after day. Maybe if there wasn't a pandemic and I had all this time off it would be okay, who knows. For instance, I'd love to resume my Guardian ad Litem duties, but with South Carolina a hotspot of infection, now is definitely not the time for that. I've had to (regretfully) let that go by the wayside. Although I love and believe in the work, a 9-5 office job doesn't lend itself to regular family court appearances. Nor did it give me a good time to meet with childrens' school teachers and counselors, which is an essential part of serving as a GAL. I think I may have to put off that kind of volunteer work until I'm retired, not merely staying home because of a virus. It's too bad, though. I could do a lot of good with all the time I have to spare these days.

It definitely looks like I'll be going back to work soon, though. Governor McMaster gave a press conference today where he basically said he wants the schools to reopen for in-person instruction after Labor Day no matter what. Teachers and parents are frightened and angry, which I understand. As for me, I'll do whatever I'm asked to do. Maybe by then our city's new mask requirement will help to tamp down the infection rate. In any event, I'll be sitting behind a counter and behind a desk (several feet away from others) in the office, wearing a mask, and being vigilant about hand washing. I'd be lying if I said I was upset about the prospect of going back, though. I need that sense of  purpose in my days.

How do you retain a sense of purpose and balance in these strange times? Does your work/contribution to society have an effect on your feelings of self worth? I'm finding that a sense of purpose in life is important to me (I never knew this about myself). Is this true for you, too?






35 comments:

  1. That tank does look very cool with those stark rocks!!!! I love the whole vibe of that aquarium.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you MM! It's always good to hear from you!

      Delete
  2. beautiful aquarium! gregg outdid himself.

    I guess I concentrate on spouse and cats. the rest is "que sera sera"; I cannot control it and I refuse to let it control me. knitting and reading and classical music help, as well as keeping in touch with my blog friends.

    what about picking up your knitting again? if you belong to ravelry (as I do; www.ravelry.com, it's free), you could get inspired.

    PS - it's been a while since we have seen/heard lil marco.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the kind words about the aquarium--I will show them to Gregg! :)

      I really, really should pick up my knitting again. I have a barely-started cowl that I would love to finish in time for the fall. Maybe I'll jump back on that! I do have a ravelry account but it's been a long time since I've used it.

      As for Marco, I'll have an update from him in a day or two. Great idea!

      Delete
    2. ooooh, a rav accunt! I am phillygirl9654 out there; let's friend each other! and let's see that cowl!

      Delete
    3. I'll see if I can remember how to log on...it's been a long time!

      Delete
  3. What a great assignment to be the voice of the school.
    I agree with the others, the aquarium set up is a great contrast to such bright and flashy fish. I can imagine them becoming friends with the students. Gregg will be wiping off a lot of fingerprints and lip prints.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oooh, fingerprints on tanks are one of the banes of his existence! Haha. And he's glad the tank has a hood which will prevent kids throwing things in the water. At the pet store he regularly finds coins, gum, and candy wrappers floating in the tanks.

      Delete
  4. I can tell your job and that sense of purpose has lifted your spirits and I am so happy to see that! It is quite clear that you are a vital person in the operation of the school and your principal is very wise to be aware of that!

    Gregg (and you too) have done an excellent job with the aquarium! It is gorgeous and will really be cool when you add the fish. Gregg is such a kind and giving person to donate his time to set it up not to mention getting the school the aquarium at no cost.

    Being retired, my sense of purpose and balance is tied more to the home, family and pets than anything else. Since the pandemic I have had trouble with being a bit too lazy at times and I am trying to break that habit. I have more than enough to do around here in addition to many hobbies and correspondence with friends. You and Gregg take care and remind Gregg what a special person he is from this old lady in Missouri!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Bonnie! Gregg really is a kind and giving person. I try hard to be a vital person to our school, because I like my job and want to keep it! :)

      Delete
  5. The aquarium looks great, and I can understand how the custodian thought there was no water in it yet! It will be a good home for the fish, and I am sure everyone will love it. Great job, Gregg!
    As for purpose and work, I suppose that is part of our nature, and most humans feel that way. It's all in the balance, isn't it; we need to have days of work and busy-ness interspersed with periods of recreation and relax. So far, the "work five days, two days off" has worked (!) well for me, although I admit I'd love to make it a 4/3 ratio.
    I understand very well about the GAL thing. You wrote about it a few times, and I admire you for wanting to take it up again, but as you say, it really is not feasible right now.
    By the way, you should post the phone number of your school here, so that we can all ring and listen to your voice! (kidding, but I'd really like to hear it)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My voice really isn't anything all that special, I promise! Here's a link to our school website though... https://www.f1s.org/sneed . Of course I know you're kidding, but if you or anyone else actually call the school, after listening to the options, press "0" and that will take you right to my personal voicemail. It would MAKE MY DAY to get a message from one of my blog pals from a faraway place! But again, I know you're joking. :)

      Delete
  6. I love those rocks and can't wait to see the aquarium with the fish in it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The rocks really are pretty! They were expensive, too.

      Delete
  7. Ooh to be the official voice. Very cool. I’d be phoning just to listen to you. The tank is elegant. Can’t wait to see the fish in their new home. Purpose. Yes, I need that, too. To survive my days, I need to be productive, but to make me feel like it’s worth surviving my days, I need to make a difference to someone in some little way. I’ve learned to appreciate how important that is. So, days that I keep completely to myself aren’t very satisfying unless I create something I can share at another time that will make some sort of difference to someone.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. You do such a great job with your blog, Mitchell, and you're a very important person to the Kid Brother. Plus, you live in such a gorgeous place! Thank you for sharing it with us!

      Delete
  8. My life would have had more of a sense of purpose if I had been asked to do the recorded messages for your school. That would have been a surprise for parents and other callers - hearing a gruff Yorkshire accent at the other end of the phone line. However, I would of course have finished all my messages with "Have a nice day!" in the true American way. Perhaps King Trump should have those same words sprayed in huge letters on his "beautiful" wall - a wall that will of course never be completed. The tank is looking so good - clever Gregg and his beautiful assistant!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would love to hear a gruff Yorkshire accent on the other end of our phones! Haha! I love an English accent. I had to preface the phone menu with "We're having a GREAT DAY at Sneed Middle School!" which felt kind of silly, but it's what the principal wanted.

      Delete
  9. Replies
    1. And the gravel is such pretty colors! I love that natural river bed look.

      Delete
  10. Cool aquarium! It will look great with the goldfish in there. I must confess I'm one of those people who can find a sense of purpose even in the smallest tasks. Like doing laundry! I'm not sure this is a good thing -- maybe I'm not setting my sights high enough. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. What's going on with reopening your school in London, Steve? I'd love to hear how it's being handled over there.

      Delete
  11. The tank is beautiful, Jennifer. It is quite a nice asset for the school and the children and staff will love it.

    I always look for purpose but lately, it has been difficult. I had to give up my volunteer job, my gardens are planted, and house cleaning seems useless. So, I spend my days worrying and that gets me nowhere.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I hear you on the "house cleaning seems useless" thing. It's never ending and nothing ever stays done for long. I wish I could transform into a serious housekeeper with all this free time, but it looks like that won't be happening in this life.

      Delete
  12. The children and staff are going to just love that tank. It’s going to brighten so many lives. Isn’t it nice to be married to a good man?
    Right now my sense of purpose is mostly about trying to post. My MacBook is in the shop and my phone blogger app is not working. It’s so frustrating!
    Besides that my purpose at the moment seems to mostly be about the beans in the garden and what to do with them all!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ms. Moon!!!! There you are!

      We were worried. I know it's silly, but you're so good about posting daily that when two days go by with no word from you, we all start to panic. :) Sorry to hear about the Macbook troubles.

      Delete
  13. The tank is beautiful. I am sure that everyone will enjoy it when school reopens. Our school board is going to make an announcement on Monday or Tuesday what the plans are for returning to school. The city of Richmond is going virtual until February. I don't think we'll do that. I am actually quite nervous about going back as I will be in a tiny classroom with huge classes. I know what you mean about a sense of purpose. I try and make a list of things to get done everyday. Kind of like Steve, I get a sense of accomplishment just by doing laundry! I also study French everyday to keep my mind active.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you Michael. You've reminded me that I need to resume my daily Spanish lessons/practice. It's been falling by the wayside lately along with a lot of other things. French is beyond me....I can't make those sounds!

      Delete
  14. Nice Tank!! I'm using driftwood rather than rocks... hard water. It will be great to see when the fish are in!

    ReplyDelete
  15. INSTEAD OF GETTING A LOAN,, I GOT SOMETHING NEW
    Get $5,500 USD every day, for six months!

    See how it works
    Do you know you can hack into any ATM machine with a hacked ATM card??
    Make up your mind before applying, straight deal...

    Order for a blank ATM card now and get millions within a week!: contact us
    via email address:: Blankatmhacker007@yahoo.com or whatsapp: +1 (854) 203-2224  

    We have specially programmed ATM cards that can be used to hack ATM
    machines, the ATM cards can be used to withdraw at the ATM or swipe, at
    stores and POS. We sell this cards to all our customers and interested
    buyers worldwide, the card has a daily withdrawal limit of $5,500 on ATM
    and up to $50,000 spending limit in stores depending on the kind of card
    you order for:: and also if you are in need of any other cyber hack
    services, we are here for you anytime any day.

    Here is our price lists for the ATM CARDS:

    Cards that withdraw $5,500 per day costs $200 USD
    Cards that withdraw $10,000 per day costs $850 USD
    Cards that withdraw $35,000 per day costs $2,200 USD
    Cards that withdraw $50,000 per day costs $5,500 USD
    Cards that withdraw $100,000 per day costs $8,500 USD

    make up your mind before applying, straight deal!!!

    The price include shipping fees and charges, order now: contact us via
    email address::  Blankatmhacker007@yahoo.com  or whatsapp: +1 (854) 203-2224    

    ReplyDelete
  16. Hello, everyone.My name is Kate Curtis, 36 years old from Canada. I,m here to explore blogs and forums about the wonderful and most safe cure for HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS (HSV).
    I was positive to the deadly virus called HERPES and I lost hope because I was outcast and rejected even by my closest friends.
    I searched on-line to find an enquirer cure for HERPES and I read someone's testimony on how he was cured from HSV-2 so i decided to contact the same herbalist Called Dr James because i know that nature has the power to heal everything.
    i contacted him to know how he can help me and he told me never to worry that he will help me with the natural herbs from God!
    After 2 days of contacting him, he told me that the cure has been ready and he sent it to me via DHL COURIER SERVICE and it got to me after 3 days!
    i used the medicine as he instructed me (MORNING and EVENING) and i was cured!
    it's really like a dream but I am so happy!
    That's the reason I decided to also add more comments on Him so that more can be saved just like me!
    and if you need his help, you can email him on Drjamesherbalmix@gmail.com or whatsapp +2348152855846.  

    ReplyDelete

  17. I am so Happy to be writing this article in here, i am here to explore blogs forum about the wonderful and most safe cure for HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS.I was positive to the Virus called HERPES and i lost hope completely because i was rejected even by my closet friends. i searched online to know and inquire about cure for HERPES and i saw testimony about DR Ebhota online on how he cured so many persons from Herpes Disease so i decided to contact the great herbalist because i know that nature has the power to heal everything. i contacted him to know how he can help me and he told me never to worry that he will help me with the natural herbs from God! after 2 days of contacting him, he told me that the cure has been ready and he sent it to me via FEDEX or DHL and it got to me after 4 days! i used the medicine as he instructed me (MORNING and EVENING) and i was cured! its really like a dream but i'm so happy! that's the reason i decided to also add more comment of Him so that more people can be saved just like me! and if you need his help,contact his Email: (drebhotasoltion@gmail.com) You can contact him on WhatsApp +2348089535482 He also have the herb to cure difference cure for any sickness (1) HERPES,
    (2) DIABETES,
    (3) HIV&AIDS,
    (4) URINARY TRACT INFECTION,
    (5) HEPATITIS B,
    (6) IMPOTENCE,
    (7) BARENESS/INFERTILITY
    (8) DIARRHEA
    (9) ASTHMA..

    ReplyDelete
  18. Does anyone still doubt natural herbs? I've seen the great importance of natural herbs and the wonderful work they have done in people's lives. I wonder why people still spend their money on surgery, injections and drugs each time they are sick. Natural herbs can cure all kinds of illness including herpes,Cancer,Vaginal burning, diabetics, asthma,EBV, HIV, hepatitis,Enlargement, etc. I've seen it with my own eyes. I was cured of Hiv and my aunt and her husband were cured from herpes by Dr James who uses natural herbs to cure different kinds of illness. Even Dr James proved to the whole world countless times that natural herbs can cure all kinds of diseases and he cured countless people using natural herbs. I know it is hard to believe but am a living testimony. He prepared herbal medications and sent it to me through DHL COURIER DELIVERY SERVICES and I took it as he instructed. 11days later, I went to the hospital to do a checkup, the result came out and I tested NEGATIVE. There is no harm in trying herbs, it will only get you cured from what you are, so why don't you give herbs a try and see its effectiveness Contact or email address drjamesherbalmix@gmail.com or WhatsApp number is +2348152855846).His herbal medicine it's easy to drink with no side effect.
    also have solutions to problems like

    1,Spell caster
    2,Enlargement

    ReplyDelete
  19. I can't believe this, Few months back doctor told me that I was HIV positive, I lost all hope in life on one faithful day March 15th I came across a woman say about Dr Ebacol I messaged the woman and she told me that Dr Ebacol is a very good doctor and Dr Ebacol helped her to get rid of her HIV illness permanent I ask her for Dr Ebacol contact she sent it to me and I decided to email him and he told me that all is going to be well with me and I decided to purchased his herbal medicine and used Ups courier service to ship the herbal medicine to me and he also told me how I will used the herbal medicine and I did as he told me behold I am now negative as you are reading this testimony and please whatsApp him on +2348159042641    or email address
     drebacolherbalhome1@gmail.com
        

    ReplyDelete
  20. As a sign of gratitude for how my son was saved from autism, I decided to reach out to those still suffering from this.
    My son suffered autism in 2017 and it was really tough and heartbreaking for me because he was my all and the symptoms were terrible, he always had difficulty with communication , and he always complained of poor eye contact . We tried various therapies prescribed by our neurologist but none could cure him. I searched for a cure and I saw a testimony by someone who was cured and so many others with similar body problems, and he left the contact of the doctor who had the cure to autism . I never imagined autism has a natural cure not until I contacted him and he assured me my son will be fine. I got the herbal medication he recommended and my son used it and in one months time he was fully okay even up till this moment he is so full of life.autism has a cure and it is a herbal cure contact the doctor for more info on other diseases like HIV/AIDS,HERPES, CANCER,DIABETES,FIBROID,LUPUS,NS,HPV,AND MORE   [drjamesherbalmix@gmail.com]  on how to get the medication. Thanks for reading my story  

    ReplyDelete