Stop Fighting

 

 The other day I asked two students to stop fighting. It sounded like a fight to tool the harsh words and name calling even though they said it was just a talk. Young people nowadays have the weirdest way of communicating. It seems to be like that all around the globe. I said “Stop fighting! There are already enough wars going on in the world.” The statement just opened a door for an array of questions about the wars going on. Questions that could be answered by reading a newspaper. Hold on! Do young people even do that nowadays? They can follow special journalists on social media, podcasts, panels of discussion online but newspapers?!?

 There is a variety of ways to get information about what's happening around the world, I realize that. This makes me reflect on another question: do young people avoid the news to protect their mental health? To protect their hearts from the sadness caused by knowing all the dirt going on around the globe? I think I'll ask them next time.

Written May 20, 2026.

PS I did ask one of my classes a few days later and the ones that said that they read online newspapers were the ones they were going to study economy or business administration. However, that was two out of fourteen, so it makes you wonder.

 

Photo: Google Images

Life has a funny way…

 

Have you ever wondered why life is sarcastic? When you are doing ok in all areas, it sneaks up on you and removes you from your comfort zone. Is that sarcasm or irony? Or is it just life being a bitch. I had a friend who used to say “Life´s a bitch and then you die,” unfortunately she died at an early age. Perhaps it was premonition.

Last week I had to see my dentist because I thought I had lost one of my teeth fillings. The horror on her face when she realized emergency surgery was needed. My fillings were not coming loose; my teeth were falling out. One was almost all the way out that my upper gum receded so much that to find a spot to connect the stitches to was not an easy task. Now I will go in for another surgery in a couple of weeks. Meanwhile I cannot eat solids, just liquid or mashed food. Go figure, now the weight is coming off naturally with no effort. Life oh life…

My mom and youngest sister and her family came down with a cold/ flu/ whatever it is nowadays, so I kept myself far away from them, but missed them terribly. I couldn´t afford to catch a cold due to some international oral exams (speaking) I needed to give. However, the students at school have forgotten everything they learned about sneezing and coughing in class (mind you I teach high school juniors and seniors) and, you guessed it, I caught a cold. My throat starting aching the night after the exams were over and now, I have to wear a mask to school so that I do not contaminate others. I certainly have learned my lesson during the pandemic. If you have a cold or flu, wear a mask. Keep a distance, wash your hands, cover your mouth when coughing and sneeze on your elbows. Life has a funny way…

Then you discover that two exceedingly kind friends are fighting for their lives out of the blue.

Yes, life has a funny funny way…

 

Written: May 10,2026 

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