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Personal Reflection/Anecdote
DKG in an Age of Anxiety: Tested
but not Bested
By Cathy P. Daugherty
Anxiety defines our lives whether shopping at offering distractions from personal concerns and
a grocery store, sharing coffee with a friend, or providing stimulation where needed the most.
attending a meeting. Physical distancing and Members who rarely attended meetings before
remote work stalled the spread of a virus that the pandemic were now visible on our screens
continues to mutate and linger worldwide… and actively engaged during virtual gatherings.
but the emotional impact was perhaps even Numerous state organizations, such as Illinois and
more disturbing and far-reaching. Isolation and California, organized programs available for all
separation from routines, friends, and other members across the Society. Topics ran the gamut
stimuli have led to depression, insomnia, and from book talks to new hobbies to the sharing of
more anxiety. And to compound the personal projects designed to support educators. Members
impact, anxiety has spread throughout society experienced fun while learning and socializing
with businesses, organizations, and services facing virtually.
extinction or permanent restructuring. The issue
for DKG members now is how our society and the
Society will function in this Age of Anxiety.
When I first considered the impact of this
topic on DKG, I was dismayed by the prospects.
But what I rediscovered was the immense pride
I have in our Society. DKG members have dealt
positively with COVID-related issues that other
organizations floundering along the way have not.
The members of DKG are emerging more flexible
and resilient due to decisions made prior to and
during the pandemic. For DKG, there is much
good gained from this 2-year subjugation to the
isolation and anxious reflection brought on by Decluttering was the rage during the early
COVID-19. days of COVID-19. Everyone was cleaning and
One silver lining in this pandemic is the space downsizing to remain productive and, in part, to
it carved out for us to slow down, reflect on what check anxiety. In an ironic turn of events, although
is important, and connect with others in new ways. not due to the pandemic, DKG was doing the same
Communication is key to our humanity. DKG thing. It was during this time that the 2018–2020
members’ resourcefulness led to acquiring new DKG Administrative Board authorized the sale of
skills and tools by which to communicate. Zoom the Society’s beautiful—yet antiquated—1950s
may be a four-letter word to some students and office space. Documents stored since the building
most actively employed teachers, but it “glued” opened were carefully preserved and later found
DKG members to one another as family, friends, a permanent home at the University of Texas at
chapter members, and colleagues. Chapters Austin’s Briscoe Center for American History.
maintained contact, conducted meetings, dealt The Society did for itself what many members
with business, and experienced meaningful did for their own families. DKG attended to the
programs that greatly reduced anxiety levels by challenges of an aging structure and, in doing so,
Collegial Exchange · 25
