2020 Hindsight: Again, Be Kind (to yourself, too!)

I know I have written about kindness often in my daily reflections and, on the 326th day of 2020, I am going to do so, again.  Because I spent a lot of the day on 11/21/2020 online with advisees in Zoom sessions.  We are discussing life, and classes, and plans, etc.  And I noted, while we were talking, that many of these students were so hard on themselves.  Apologizing for things that need no apology, calling themselves "dumb", questioning their place at Penn.  My 2020 Hindsight is again, Be Kind (to yourself, too!)  I tried to assure the students that they are not less than anyone else, that they are not "dumb" and that, as pre-major students, it is OK not to be 100% sure of one's plans.  I try to make sure they realize that the skills and efforts that got them in to a place such as Penn are not necessarily the same skills and efforts that will being them success at Penn (or in life for that matter).  And then, I realized, I could say the same to myself and I would be you all could say it to yourselves as well.  As the saying goes, you should put on your oxygen mask before assisting others.   Take care of yourself so you can take care of others as well!