June 13, 2020

How to Live Better covid-19: day 92 | US: GA | info | act

I posted this a couple of days ago with my meme checkin, but I like it, so I wanted to copy it here. They call these “How to Work Better,” but I renamed it above.

1. Do one thing at a time
2. Know the problem
3. Learn to listen
4. Learn to ask questions
5. Distinguish sense from nonsense
6. Accept change as inevitable
7. Admit mistakes
8. Say it simple
9. Be calm
10. Smile

I have no wish to appropriate these from Black Lives Matter, and they should clearly be ready in that vein first. Yet, as an educator, I think these should be the goals of higher education, especially number five. I think that education involves making us more engaged and compassionate and informed citizens—this is crucial for the survival of democracy. If Norman Mailer is correct and that

“ Democracy is a state of grace attained only by those countries that have a host of individuals not only ready to enjoy freedom but to undergo the heavy labor of maintaining it. ”

We all have the responsibly to educate ourselves to be better humans, especially those of us who are melanin-challenged.