The Afro Librarian Gets An Angry Note.

This week, I asked some students to be quiet in the library. It’s so cliche’. There are cartoons about being quiet in the library, there are one and a half million memes about being quiet in the library. Anyone who has ever heard of “the library” knows that it’s a quiet place.

Everyone except these students… If you haved worked with young people, you know the scenario: One person is on the computer, but their 2 friends (who are NOT working) are talking loud, laughing and eating… IN THE LIBRARY. You would think they’d lie low, but NOOOOOOO! They were so loud that students, who were actually trying to study, discretely switched computers, glared angrily, sighed, huffed and puffed, all in an effort to quiet their riotous behavior. Of course, at this point I was forced to do my job and quiet the library. I addressed the loudest friend with a choice "you can get your own computer, or you can leave, but you can't sit here and talk to your friend." (Pause. Please understand, I'd already approached the group about eating AND again about talking loudly in the library). At this point, not only does the friend leave, but so does the person who was actually doing work on the computer. I guess it was too much to work without an entourage… Yes, they left, but not before leaving a wonderful note expressing how much they appreciated my services…

Of course they didn’t give it DIRECTLY to me. So there’s that. Thank goodness, cuz I’m professional, but I’m also from the West side of Chicago and what you’re NOT gonna do is be disrespectful to my face.

What the students don’t know, is that after this incident happened, I’m the one that advocated for them not to be banned from the library. Why? Because in the grand scheme of things, it’s more important to me they are able to use our facilities than it is for me to drop the hammer on them for being disrespectful. Maybe one day they’ll realize the life lesson of being nice to people because you never know who will help you behind the scenes…

Truthfully, I can’t even get mad. This week has been really difficult, and not because I got cussed out in really bad handwriting...

I've learned that yet another one of my Facebook friends has died before the age of 50. This information shook me more than I'd expected. I've had 6 friends die since 2010 and 5 of them were due to stress related illnesses like heart disease. When I got that note at work, I internalized that negative energy as anger. But the truth is, stress, anger and bad habits are taking folks out. On top of life's daily stress, I also have been dealing with 2016 and all its stressful events. Opening my Facebook page invites constant images of young Black people being slaughtered by unapologetic public "servants". My feelings of helplessness and being ignored adds to the daily stress I encounter just living day to day. So, this week, when I felt the stress of life building around me, I immediately prayed for peace of mind and guidance for myself and for those students.

I remembered my health and my commitment to my own peace of mind. I went for a walk to release the anger, sadness and stress of this week. I followed my walk with 10 minutes of meditation. I made sure to walk and meditate near the lake so I could benefit even more from being with nature. And when I was done, I felt lighter in my heart.

This is my happy place. Lake Pontchartrain.
The picture on the life is where I walk off the stress.
The picture on the right is where I meditate for peace. 

So, remember to take care of your own mental health. Take a walk, be with people who make you laugh, go around nature or hug someone you love. When someone tries to break your spirit, release it and walk in light. These things will save your life.

Until next time

Peace and Light,

The Afro Librarian