Today I was binging through season 5 of Orange is the New Black in an attempt to complete the series (to date) before returning to work. In one of the episodes, Suzanne shares with her cellmates that the sky is always blue. She said, “It’s like the sky is blue, right? But when there are clouds, you think it’s gray. But, really, it’s still blue. It hasn’t changed. It’s just covered with gray clouds passing by. And your clouds will pass by.”
Wow!
How many times have we been so consumed by the grayness of the clouds that we fail to remember the sky is still blue? The clouds can take many forms. At work, they may be state mandates, or meeting overload, or high stakes testing. At home, it manifests itself as a squealing dryer, a leaking toilet, or a (near) empty checking account. And I have to admit, sometimes my clouds manifest themselves in those dearest to my heart, when frustrations run high over short tempers or hurt feelings.
“It’s like the sky is blue, right?”
Sure state mandates can be tedious, and meetings get boring, and we all know that high stakes testing isn’t the best accountability measure, but I get to spend my days with passionate, dedicated teachers and administrators who are in an unrelenting pursuit of the amazing school experience for EVERY child. I get to help design experiences that ignite student genius, and empower them to pursue their own passions. How amazingly blue of a sky is that?!? And I get paid for it, too!
“But when there are clouds, you think it’s gray. But, really, it’s still blue. It hasn’t changed.”
I ordered a rear bearing kit from Amazon for my dryer, and with the power of YouTube, should have it back in action before the weekend is over. A toilet seal is only a few bucks at Home Depot, and at least I have a steady paycheck to replenish that checking account. These are just things, after all. Things can be fixed, replaced, or lived without.
“It’s just covered with gray clouds passing by. And your clouds will pass by.”
My family is my center. My daughters fill my heart with so much joy. My boyfriend makes me smile every time I see him. We all have our moments when we are not at our greatest, but through it all, we continue to love and support each other.
Epicurus, ancient stoic philosopher, said, “Not what we have but what we enjoy constitutes our abundance.”
Committing to enjoying the blue sky!
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Laura K Spencer, Ed.D. 