2009 - The Ox Year

I am blessed. I know this. I understand that when I put my faith in God and the powers of the universe (as He-Man show as that might sound), I tend to have peace within. When that happens, good things happen in my life. Kinda like the story of when you give a mouse a cookie concept.

Here are the blessings that I need to put in my "jar":

1. New opportunities for my family...new home, new life.
2. Old friends who continue to give me comfort, joy and support.
3. Busy life - full life with lots of lessons and reminders that I still have much to learn.
4. Meeting long-term goals with hard work.

That's good for now.

Wishes

I have a list of my dream destinations/goals in some black marble composition somewhere, but I'll write it down here too:

Travel:

China - Great Wall

New Zealand

Australia

Alaska

Mt. Rushmore

Montreal

Do:

Swim with dolphins

School Year 2007 to 2008

I appreciate....

1. Being reminded (by Jas O.) that I can remember the overall goodness of students rather than one evening of dumb decisions. (I hope they learn from it, grow from it.)
   
2. The enthusiasm of a new crop of students and their readiness to continue the positive traditions set forth by others.
3. The secret geniuses that lurk in my students' bodies - kind of like a pod people thing.
4. My own son who asks whether or not a person is good, has a good heart before drawing a conclusion.

Before I forget

Hmm...my title reminds me that I might not remember all the great moments in my life one day....

I'm grateful for my renewed relationship with my mother. I used to think she was insufferable. I was 14-17. I learned otherwise.

I recognize that teens are a bit wacko (hormones and stuff). See above comment.

I like reading more now than I used to when I was in high school.

Las Vegas Winnings

I suppose I learned a few lessons while we were in Vegas this time around.

1.  Don't get greedy. When I was ahead by $100 on the "Wheel of Fortune" slot machine, I should have stopped. Really. Really. Because it would have been me saying to the universe, "Thanks, ah, for the extra funds," and left it at that.

2.  I can't live in a place where there's no real place to get away from the city or the suburbs. I need a bit of green plants that nature provides - Las Vegas isn't the place.

3.  Don't leave text messages on someone's home phone because home phones don't do that, just cell phones.

4.  Don't bring work to vacation. Just vacation.

5.  My ultimate vacation has nothing to do with shopping, sight-seeing, and gambling. It's just being with my family - relaxing - with no real agenda except to be together.

Forgiveness

I suppose this has been coming for a long time. Another teacher told me yesterday that she had a talk with her students to let them know that she accepts the fact that she can't save them all. Today, I have come to the same conclusion. I have also concluded that unless I want to feel resentful all my life regarding certain students' self-centered behavior, I need to learn to forgive them for not being raised well enough to know how to be better people. 

Oh, but here are my silver linings:

1.  A son who will make salad for the family without a murmur of complaint. Thank goodness, because I don't think I could really handle another teenager with a "me, me, me" attitude.

2. A bunch of students who WILL work tremendously hard, and know that their kindness and good attitude will make a difference in others.... They may not know that I am affected by their goodness, but I guess I have to let them know how grateful I am for their existence in my life.

3. The husband, who once again, reminds me to smile and laugh at myself.

There. I feel better. May those young men who haven't yet figured out how to be kind and respectful people find it in themselves before it's too late.

Sigh.

Goals to sustain my soul

1. Count my blessings daily.
2. Spend quality time with family.
3. Read great books.

4. Document my family's history.