What an emotional day this has been – waking to stunning news from America, going for breakfast with lovely friends and coming back to find a message asking me to call the husband of one of my dearest friends. I have lost another friend, a colleague, a sister – a young woman with whom I worked for 15 years, with whom I built the Training School at Hayfield Comprehensive and whom I loved most dearly. We two were a force to be reckoned with.
I have two quotations for you today, one taken from American substack writer Liza Donnelly’s daily email for which I thank her.
“In an interview years ago, Fred Rogers said that when he was a boy, his mother told him that if he was scared, “Look for the helpers. When you see the helpers, you will know that there’s hope.”
We have so many helpers! Become a helper, join them and let them help you figure out what your role could be. This morning, I am getting many messages from friends asking me if I’m okay. These friends are helpers, their comfort is soothing. We are not alone.”
And from my much loved choir leader, more positivity:
Instructions
Gather your helpers, your people, your community and find hope.
