Make a fresh start at the beginning of the school year | Morgan Hill Times

This time of year, many of us are thinking about going back to school, for ourselves or for our children or grandchildren. There are all kinds of questions: Who will take the kids to school? Do we have the right school supplies? Who will make lunch? I have received many advertisements for “must-haves” for school children of all ages. Signs of going back to school are all around us.

For those of us not going back to school, this time of year still seems to be a ritual of starting something new. Some of the organizations I’m part of have a “kick-off” event or sign-up for new activities, so almost everyone is getting ready for something new.

And with the start of the school year or the beginning of a new academic year, students – whether in elementary, high school, or college – and those of us not returning to school can feel anxious about the changes that the new brings. Everywhere I go, mental health has become a topic of conversation. With natural disasters, the divisions we’re seeing in our politics, the rising levels of hate and violence, and COVID still circulating, no one can escape the pressures of our culture.

At the beginning of the new school year, I would like to make some rule suggestions:

1. We all need the support of a community. No one should walk their path in life alone. A community can be a family, a close circle of friends, an organization, or a religious community. This community is a place where you are accepted and celebrated for who you are. This community is a place where you can express your thoughts and feelings without being judged as “wrong.” Identify your community and be grateful for the people in your community. And if you don’t belong to a community, look for a community you can belong to.
2. Develop a kind attitude towards others and ourselves. Life is difficult. So often, judgment is the first reaction to everything. We expect perfection, and most of the time, perfection is not the result. We are all human and we all make mistakes and have weaknesses. When we are kind, our anxiety is less. In particular, be kind to ourselves. Sometimes we are the hardest on ourselves.
3. Try to make at least one new friend. Friends benefit each other in countless ways. They listen, encourage, give advice, have fun, share knowledge, share secrets, and just be there for each other. The details vary from time to time and from friendship to friendship. New friends expand our boundaries and help us grow.

If you feel like these rules are too daunting, remember that we all have a higher power helping us. We can refer to this higher power as God or something else. This higher power will be with us, encouraging us and helping us through the most difficult situations we will ever face.

May each of us reconnect with our higher power this school year and renew our energy, spirit and life.Rev. Dr. Linda A. Holbrook is pastor of Morgan Hill United Methodist Church and a member of the Interfaith Clergy Alliance. You can reach her at [email protected].