When the Barn Burns Down, We Learn to Appreciate the Moon: Finding Perspective in the Face of Adversity
Today, I woke up just two minutes before a scheduled online English lesson. Despite the late start, I managed to turn on my computer, change into a clean shirt, and hastily tie my hair back into a messy chignon. Although I arrived 1.5 minutes late, I was still able to begin the lesson and effectively teach my student, who had also arrived to the online classroom late.
As some background, I rarely oversleep — the last time was in December 2022 when battling jet lag and adjusting to a 13-hour time difference. Normally, I’m fortunate to have an internal clock that wakes me up around 5:30–6:00 AM. This internal alarm helps me get dressed and enjoy my morning coffee by 7:30–8:00 AM, preparing me to start my day teaching online.
While waiting for my second student of the day to join the online lesson, I heard a series of gentle knocks on my door. I guessed it was my relatively unknown flatmate whom I’ve only met a few times since moving into this new flat just last week. Donning my professional, teacherly button-up shirt paired with the ultimate in sophisticated loungewear — my Hello…
