I have stopped taking the time to unpack and am wondering if any of you are experiencing the same thing. What do I mean by that? Well, let’s unpack it.
First, I mean it literally. I recently took a weekend trip to open up my cottage for the season. When I arrived there, I threw my backpack on the bench at the end of the bed and for the entire weekend I retrieved and returned my clothes to that bag. There was a time when I would’ve put everything away in the dresser. But I no longer do that. Why? And perhaps more importantly, what does it mean?
Unpacking allows you to take stock. It helps you see the big picture. It helps you settle in. But it can seem unnecessary when it’s just a short stay. And isn’t everything a short stay these days (I may be moving away from the literal and into the figurative now)? Perhaps because we are expected to move at such a fast pace these days, the need to unpack has become superfluous?
I was introduced to another use for the term when, in education, we adopted the common core standards. A multitude of professional developments then offered trainings on how to unpack these standards. We took time to learn how the standards were developed, what the goal was, and how to implement lessons that aligned with them. In other words, we took stock, looked at the big picture, and settled in.
While the merits (or lack thereof) of the common core standards have been hotly debated, the unpacking process is
one worth deeper consideration. When we hear something we question, when something isn’t sitting right, when we are uncertain or anxious. When we disagree or our emotions get triggered. When we learn something new or complex. When we hear other people’s stories. We have daily opportunities to stop in the midst of our fast-paced lives to take stock, see the big picture, and settle in. In other words, we have a lot of unpacking to do.
What can we help you unpack? Please feel free to comment or share.
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