What makes you feel good?
A soft kitten purring in your arms?
A baby sleeping peacefully.
Playing with a child and listening to their play talk.
Perhaps doing a good deed and seeing the affect it made in someone's life.
Does it make you glad you didn't pop off with a sarcastic remark to a friend today?
When you see your family and get/give them a hug, do you radiate with love?
Getting a kiss and a smile from your spouse.
Getting an unexpected gift just for being you.
Sending a card to an elderly widow or widower.
Or
Sitting and doing nothing worthwhile all day.
Lying about being sick and skipping work.
Watching TV for 8 hours a day.
Drinking a couple of beers or glasses of wine.
Kicking back with the buddies at a bar.
Talking about the boss or other colleague at work.
Winning a disagreement with your spouse.
Making another person feel small.
Griping to the worker that couldn't find the problem with your car.
Which list describes your feel-good feelings? The first one, the second one or a combination of both?
August 30, 2005
August 28, 2005
Blogging Block
Since school has started back, I can't seem to blog. It isn't so much that I'm too busy. I have started to blog several times. I had an entry in the draft stage for a week and tonight I finally deleted it. I attempted to start another one only to delete it too. Even now as I type this, I am constantly deleteing what I type.
The first blog I deleted was about Freedom. Last Sunday, for some reason, I was really moved by the songs, the prayers, the sermon. I was feeling so good last Sunday that I wanted to write a blog about realizing what freedom in Christ really meant. However, the words were too many and it just wasn't saying what I wanted to say about freedom.
So then I thought since it was raining and thundering outside that I would write about how I love to listen to rain storms. I recalled some of my more memorable rainstorms and being sheltered from the rain. That thought led to thinking about the homeless people who may not have a shelter from this storm. That thought led me to realize I was doing nothing to help their situation. I felt selfish for writing about my cozy shelter from the rain when I knew some people couldn't have that feeling.
Somehow though I think these subjects should be able to connect. Freedom-rainstorms-helping.
The first blog I deleted was about Freedom. Last Sunday, for some reason, I was really moved by the songs, the prayers, the sermon. I was feeling so good last Sunday that I wanted to write a blog about realizing what freedom in Christ really meant. However, the words were too many and it just wasn't saying what I wanted to say about freedom.
So then I thought since it was raining and thundering outside that I would write about how I love to listen to rain storms. I recalled some of my more memorable rainstorms and being sheltered from the rain. That thought led to thinking about the homeless people who may not have a shelter from this storm. That thought led me to realize I was doing nothing to help their situation. I felt selfish for writing about my cozy shelter from the rain when I knew some people couldn't have that feeling.
Somehow though I think these subjects should be able to connect. Freedom-rainstorms-helping.
August 14, 2005
It Is Officially Time For School
Tomorrow morning the gym in the elementary school where I teach will be brimming over with kids of pre-kindergarten age all the way up to 5th grade. Almost 900 children will be in attendance. They will most likely all be sporting new backpacks, new tennis shoes and maybe a new piece of clothing. Most of them will come in with happy smiles and excited to see old friends after the summer vacation. There will be others, usually the pre-k and primary kids that will shed a tear at having to come from their homes to such a different place that's so loud.
Teachers will also come into the gym. We will also perhaps wear a new outfit. The majority of us will be wearing a smile too. We will greet and welcome back students we knew from the previous year. We will attempt to ease the fears of the new students in our school. Some of us may too, shed a tear at having to leave the sanctuary of our summer vacation and come into this loud place.
By the time the dismissal bell rings in the afternoon to go home, all will be better in most cases. The new children usually having made a new friend or two and are feeling better about returning the next morning. Some of those little guys might take a whole week to warm up to this new school, but they will eventually come around. Yep, they will all find a classroom and a desk to sit in. They will all be marked "present" because no one is counted absent on the first day. They will probably write their name, perhaps color a bit and maybe even hear a good story read to them by a teacher or librarian. They will all have lunch. They will all find the restroom. Some of them will find the nurse's office. Finally, they will all go home. What more can we expect from the first day of school?
I'll let you know how it goes. Welcome Back to School, August, 15, 2005
Teachers will also come into the gym. We will also perhaps wear a new outfit. The majority of us will be wearing a smile too. We will greet and welcome back students we knew from the previous year. We will attempt to ease the fears of the new students in our school. Some of us may too, shed a tear at having to leave the sanctuary of our summer vacation and come into this loud place.
By the time the dismissal bell rings in the afternoon to go home, all will be better in most cases. The new children usually having made a new friend or two and are feeling better about returning the next morning. Some of those little guys might take a whole week to warm up to this new school, but they will eventually come around. Yep, they will all find a classroom and a desk to sit in. They will all be marked "present" because no one is counted absent on the first day. They will probably write their name, perhaps color a bit and maybe even hear a good story read to them by a teacher or librarian. They will all have lunch. They will all find the restroom. Some of them will find the nurse's office. Finally, they will all go home. What more can we expect from the first day of school?
I'll let you know how it goes. Welcome Back to School, August, 15, 2005
August 8, 2005
Welcome Back To School
It is the start of another new schoolyear. Even though it is sad to say goodbye to summer, there is something invigorating about starting school. It is as if I have been given another chance to get it right. As a teacher I can start over with a new class of children and correct the mistakes I made with the last group.
The students in my district still have another week left before they start laying out that special outfit to wear or packing their brand new notebook and pencils into their new backpacks. As teachers, however, we get that priviledge this evening. I even bought a new dress to wear to opening day. It isn't anything too unique, but it's new and that is what counts. I also bought a new calendar for my zip-up day planner. I'm looking forward to writing on the crisp new pages all the events that will happen this year.
Now don't get me wrong, I'll miss summer vacation very much. I had a very relaxed two months. Kim and I went to Michigan in June to visit with Jason, Kari, Aidan and Regan. I really enjoyed my visit with them and playing with my grandchildren. Part of that week, Kim and I went to another town in Michigan where we got to stay in a very nice hotel and attend the American Association of Community Theater festival and conference. We saw plays, went to workshops and had fun. Two weeks ago we rented a beach cabin and stayed for a week on the beach. That was really relaxing because there was the beach, the ocean, the cabin and us. Our children stayed with us one night and we went down to the beach, played games, and went over to Galveston for dinner. My kids are so much fun to be around. Then another evening Kim and I went back to Galveston for another dinner this time with friends from Baytown.
This summer I stayed in my pajamas practically all day when I didn't have to be anywhere special. All the housework I thought I would complete still sits in partial completion. It's okay because I have decided not to be in too big a hurry and do a little bit at a time. I think I can get it done by Christmas.
Kim has a new job and this time I believe it was made for him. He has gone back to teaching school after being out of it for 25 years. He will be great though because he will get to teach what he loves the most. Theater, what else? He has already started work and I love that he comes home everyday with excitment and happiness. I love that he wants to tell me about his day. I am enjoying listening to him talk to me.
I have really enjoyed having two of my sons and their wives in town. I have had them over some this summer for dinner or a movie. Like I said, I love being around my children. They make me happy.
So I am going back to school relaxed and ready. It has been many years since I have felt this good about starting back to school. I've already been to my classroom to decorate, change the furniture around and start planning my classes. I still like to teach and preparing my classroom is half the fun of the beginning of school. Let's hope I can keep this positive attitude all year.
The students in my district still have another week left before they start laying out that special outfit to wear or packing their brand new notebook and pencils into their new backpacks. As teachers, however, we get that priviledge this evening. I even bought a new dress to wear to opening day. It isn't anything too unique, but it's new and that is what counts. I also bought a new calendar for my zip-up day planner. I'm looking forward to writing on the crisp new pages all the events that will happen this year.
Now don't get me wrong, I'll miss summer vacation very much. I had a very relaxed two months. Kim and I went to Michigan in June to visit with Jason, Kari, Aidan and Regan. I really enjoyed my visit with them and playing with my grandchildren. Part of that week, Kim and I went to another town in Michigan where we got to stay in a very nice hotel and attend the American Association of Community Theater festival and conference. We saw plays, went to workshops and had fun. Two weeks ago we rented a beach cabin and stayed for a week on the beach. That was really relaxing because there was the beach, the ocean, the cabin and us. Our children stayed with us one night and we went down to the beach, played games, and went over to Galveston for dinner. My kids are so much fun to be around. Then another evening Kim and I went back to Galveston for another dinner this time with friends from Baytown.
This summer I stayed in my pajamas practically all day when I didn't have to be anywhere special. All the housework I thought I would complete still sits in partial completion. It's okay because I have decided not to be in too big a hurry and do a little bit at a time. I think I can get it done by Christmas.
Kim has a new job and this time I believe it was made for him. He has gone back to teaching school after being out of it for 25 years. He will be great though because he will get to teach what he loves the most. Theater, what else? He has already started work and I love that he comes home everyday with excitment and happiness. I love that he wants to tell me about his day. I am enjoying listening to him talk to me.
I have really enjoyed having two of my sons and their wives in town. I have had them over some this summer for dinner or a movie. Like I said, I love being around my children. They make me happy.
So I am going back to school relaxed and ready. It has been many years since I have felt this good about starting back to school. I've already been to my classroom to decorate, change the furniture around and start planning my classes. I still like to teach and preparing my classroom is half the fun of the beginning of school. Let's hope I can keep this positive attitude all year.
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