Sathya Essentials

I wish I could feel the full joy of sending my boys off to second and fifth grade today. I wish I had the mental and emotional bandwidth to take their picture in front of the school, smiling and full of excitement. I wish I could feel my way past the disappointment in the way humans are behaving right now so that I could just enjoy the moment.
After 1.5+ years at home, my kids are back in person but was a nearly impossible choice.
Our school district does not require masks in the building despite a local courts health order that went into effect on Sunday. They waited until last night at 10:30 PM to even go as far as “recommending” masks. Our superintendent went in tv last week and bold faced lied about that. 😐
At last nights board meeting a woman got up and screamed about how Donald trump is our one true president. Another screamed “we will not comply” like a battle cry at Sterling. And these are the people the school board is pandering to. Belligerent psychopaths.
It would seem like a simple thing to teach your kids to care for their community. To sacrifice a little comfort for the well-being of others. Like how we make them wear seatbelts even if they’re uncomfortable… for their own protection. But no. Not here in Dripping Springs. There’s no science here. Just politics.
So, while my cousin, who is my exact age lies in a hospital bed on oxygen with opacities in his lungs from covid and my kids go back to a building full of people, where it will undoubtedly keep spreading, I’m here… poolside for a moment at my neighbors beautiful house, watering their plants, feeding their cats and pouring a bucket of tears on my shirt. Because it’s been hard on everyone and it’s even harder knowing how little people seem to care.
But I’m also grateful. So very grateful for the people who have been our small but mighty community for change and for the teachers and staff who are making the best of an impossible situation.
Happy first day of of school to all the parents struggling through this challenging transition and let’s keep advocating for our kids and pray we come out stronger on the other end.

Three generations of beach lovers ❤️
My dad is always teaching me to explore the world, live simply, not take myself too seriously and enjoy what’s right in front of me. I hope it’s rubbed off enough to pass it on to my kids. His favorite things are meat, potatoes, good wine, giving emotional speeches at family gatherings and 2-3 hour walks on the beach where he always forgets to bring sunscreen. 😅
Still treasuring the time we spent in Cancun last month doing all of the above. It’s what life is for… to do what you love and do it in a way that hurts no one. This is what I feel is horribly missing in American (or at least Texan) society. The emphasis on freedom to do whatever you want regardless of how it might hurt others. It’s a toxic and dark mentality that I find myself less and less inclined to buy into. If we aren’t caring for ourselves AS WELL as others, I’m simply not interested. ✌🏽