Just one to Change

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them-that only creates..."

Sun, 25 Mar 2012 00:16:38 -0400

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them-that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

- Lao Tzu

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 20:28:46 -0500

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

"Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond out grasp, but if you will sit..."

Tue, 21 Feb 2012 19:54:38 -0500

“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond out grasp, but if you will sit down quietly, may align upon you.”

- Nathaniel Hawthorne

"I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme,..."

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 22:02:07 -0500

“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I’ve learned, the hard way, that some poems don’t rhyme, and some stories don’t have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it without knowing what’s going to happen next.”

- Gilda Radner

Very touching.

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:51:07 -0500

Very touching.

"I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future."

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 21:43:32 -0500

“I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future.”

- Author Unknown

Words

Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:08:29 -0500

“You get what you get, and you don’t throw a fit.” This is what is being taught to the youngsters so they don’t complain during the school day. They have it memorized and it is heard many times throughout the day. One may receive a yellow crayon and that is what he can draw with, no exceptions. They learn just to accept what life hands them.

No one tells them that there is/can be more to the story. There could be an asterisk attached to the saying- They could share with one another. They could throw a fit. Hey, life isn’t fair and sometimes you have to stand up when injustices are done.

But no, they continue to be drilled with these sayings. When I was a kid it was, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Really? Words will never hurt me? Well I don’t believe that.

"Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in..."

Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:27:49 -0500

“Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them — every day begin the task anew.”

- Saint Francis de Sales

I care.

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 18:47:41 -0500

To them, it didn’t matter that you repeatedly asked them to stop talking and get back to work. To them, it didn’t matter that they answered a question wrong. To them, it didn’t matter that they were behind in their lesson.

What mattered was that they knew you cared. They knew, if they waited patiently long enough, I would answer their question. They knew that they could trust me with a piece of information. When I greeted them in the morning with a friendly, “Hello! How are you today?” they knew I truly wanted to know how they were doing. When I gave them a pat on the back, they knew I was praising their efforts. They knew I had not given up on them and believed they could do it.

It’s the little words, moments, gestures, looks, etc. throughout the day that remind you that you are someone special in these individuals’ lives. It makes me smile when they wave or greet you by your name in the hallway. Just a smile back their way or a high five enhances their days. Letting them tell you a story, what happened last night, what they wrote, etc. is a powerful moment. These individuals crave attention and feel so proud when it is given to them. Especially with the little ones, one-on-one time is like winning the lottery. They always ask and wish it could happen more often.

You know that you are doing the right thing when after a long day, those individuals cheerfully wave and call you by name, saying, “Good-bye.” How can you not smile while your heart melts?

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

-Leo F. Buscaglia

"Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In..."

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 07:44:00 -0500

““Be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars. In the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul.””

2 weeks

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:33:35 -0500

“The important thing is not so much that every child should be taught, as that every child should be given the wish to learn.” -John Lubbock

Two weeks was all the time I got to spend with him. Two weeks to learn his name, what his interests were, and how I could help him. Two weeks for him to realize I cared about him and wanted him to succeed. Then he was gone. Moved onto a new place, new people where the process will start over again. He wanted to learn. He asked for help and would do the extra work. He wanted to succeed.

He made me realize how important every interaction throughout the day is. They want and need the positive attention. They hunger for a compliment or acknowledgment that they are on the right track. In time, a working relationship forms and they take pride in their work. It is a win-win situation for all involved.