My ramblings about the power of creating something

December 15, 2016 my13daychallenge

An idea is born. A powerful, creative, joyful idea. I hold it close to my heart afraid that it will somehow die if I let it go into the cruel world. But an idea left in my hand will also die. So, I release the idea to the world knowing that some ideas live and some must die. The creation process can be cruel at times. I blow life into the idea’s little wings so it can fly while it is still young. Some day it might have power to fly on its own or it might sink to the bottom of the ocean after being struck by a fiery dart. I don’t know when I first get an idea if it will be a success or a flop. There’s so much hope and so much fear looking at the idea in my little hand. I’d rather keep it safe with me but risk is needed in the process of creation. So, I let the little idea go. And wait. Will into it turn into project and perhaps ignite movement? It’s a beginning and I am the artist.

That’s the power of creating something new.

Challenge 14: Gratitude

Not Grateful Day

November 29, 2016November 29, 2016 my13daychallenge

I’ve been doing the thankful challenge for 30 days now. Yesterday, I had a bad day. I wasn’t feeling grateful for anything. So, I decided to honor my feelings and write an ungrateful list.

I’m NOT GRATEFUL for…

Scorpions
Scorpions that don’t die when you try to kill them.
Students that turn in all their overdue work and then expect me to have everything graded by the end of the hour.
Dropped cell phone calls
A cold Achoo!
The bill from the dental office
Ants who decide to bite you when you are mowing the lawn.
Lawns that don’t mow themselves.
The blender decided to break when I was trying to make a smoothie.
Bad dreams
Good dreams that you wake up from and realize that it was just a dream. I really wanted the ability to fly.

The list goes on and on. I made a list of 50 things. It was super easy to think of things. The more I thought about being ungrateful the more stuff popped into my head that was wrong with my life. Here’s are a few of my favorite ones from the list.

22. I’m not a millionaire.

37. French fries have calories in them.

48. All the bad stuff that I see on the news

I learned that it was a lot easier to be ungrateful than grateful. It takes work to be grateful. That was actually ungrateful item #50 from the list.

50. Being grateful takes too much work.

After I wrote out all 50 items, I read them out loud in my most annoyed voice in front of the mirror. I felt like a little girl who had been caught doing something naughty. It was so much fun to be unthankful. I gave myself permission to get upset about all the little annoyances and big grievances in my life. It was fun. You should try it sometime.

Today I’m grateful that I can be ungrateful and still laugh about it.

Challenge 14: Gratitude · Musings

Thankful Day #26: Water

November 26, 2016 my13daychallenge

Water.

I take it for granted. It’s always there when I need it. I don’t have to walk five miles a day to get water for my family from a well or river. I’ve never had to worry about clean water. I just turn on the facet and out it comes. It’s there for drinking, bathing and watering my little herb garden. I know I’m privileged. There are many people in the world who don’t have access to clean water.

I’m not a politician, but it makes sense to me to support policies that will keep water clean. I’m not a great philanthropist, but it makes sense to me to support organizations and programs that help individuals and nations have access to clean water.

Without clean water, we are all in trouble.

Challenge 14: Gratitude

Grateful Days 1-24

November 26, 2016November 26, 2016 my13daychallenge

It’s time to start my November tradition. I write something I’m grateful for every day for the entire month in my journal. Here’s my list for the first 25 days of November.

Day 1: I’m grateful for music.

Thankful Day #2: I’m grateful for bowling with my friends after a long day at work.

Thankful Day #3. Windshield wipers that work

Thankful Day #4: The weekend is here!

Thankful Day #5: Walking. It’s a gift.

Day #6: I’m grateful for all the rights in the Bill of Rights. It’s a blessing to be able to assemble with other people, pick my own church and express ideas in written form with others. It’s a blessing that you have that same right too. I may not always like how other people exercise their rights, but l will defend and respect their right to do so. The day we only look after our own civil liberties at the expense of others rights is the day that we all start to lose.

Day 7: Family and Friends
Day 8: The ability to vote

Gratitude Day #10: I’m grateful for puffy white clouds. I love clouds. They are so pretty. I saw a beautiful cloud driving home from work today. It made me just smile. Clouds are cool. I bet you are wondering what happened to yesterday’s gratitude post. Well, I wasn’t feeling very thankful on November 9th so I took a day off from the challenge. I’m back though today and will try to be thankful for something every day for the rest of this month.

Day 11: I’m grateful for all veterans and their families. Thank you for your service.

Day 12: Grateful for my legs and feet

Day #13: I’m grateful for books.

Day 14: I’m thankful for a working car.

Day 15: I’m thankful for my free pen. Some one gave me a free pen today and I was very happy to get it.

Day 16: I’m grateful for my bed. It’s good to have a bed to sleep in . l would be a very grouchy person if l had to sleep in a tent every night.

Day 17: I’m grateful for my siblings.

Day 18: I’m grateful to have a job. (And now I’m off to that job.)

Day 19-20: I’m grateful my Grandma got me a cookbook for my graduation gift many years ago. I love this book and use it all the time. In fact, l used it tonight. I felt like eating some deviled eggs but l couldn’t remember how much mayo to put in. This book has everything in it. It’s amazing. Thanks Grandma. I’m still enjoying the gift. (By the way, Nathan said he loves this book too. He likes to eat.)

Day 21: I’m grateful that I’m not a Pilgrim and that I don’t have to cook over an open flame every night. The 6th graders went on a virtual field trip to Plimouth Plantation this week. The students enjoyed it and it made me remember to be grateful for things like a modern kitchen and indoor plumbing. I would have made a terrible Pilgrim.

Day 22: I’m grateful for my parents and how they have put up with all these years.

Day 23: I’m thankful for good people who are trying to make the world a better place. Last night, Nate and l participated in a choir that sang for an interfaith Thanksgiving service in Tempe. It was a sweet experience and l felt God’s love as we came together with songs and messages. I’m glad l was a part of it. I even ran into my dear coworker Diane which made it a special treat. We took a selfie.

Day 24: I’m grateful for my Mom and the joy she brings to the world.

Thankful Day 25: I’m grateful for Jesus, for my family and for the ability to turn off my alarm clock and sleep in until 7:30 a.m. I normally start my day at 5:00 a.m. so sleeping until 7:30 is a wonderful treat. I’m also thankful for cousin Carrie. I got to see her today and she is one of the coolest people I know on planet Earth. She’s intelligent, fun, beautiful, creative and just an interesting person. I love hanging out with her. I’ve got to find her job in Arizona so I can see her more. (Or maybe we can both find jobs somewhere exciting like London)

Uncategorized

Technology Fast Update

November 1, 2016November 1, 2016 my13daychallenge

My two week technology fast came and went. It was a good experience. I didn’t accomplish all the things I had planned, but I still enjoyed the respite from social media. Here’s a picture of me not wanting to wait to put my swimming suit on before I play in the water.

Challenge: Hula-Hoop Brain Challenge · New Years Resolutions 2016 · positive thinking

Hula Hooping Through 2016: An Update on My New Year’s Goals

September 22, 2016 my13daychallenge

I remembered today that I had written New Year’s Resolutions. Oops. I’ve done many great things this year, but it’s just not been the stuff I set out to do. Here’s my update on my 2016 New Year’s Goals. Let’s see how I’m doing on them.

1.Do a 10 minute mediation/deep breathing exercise every day

In January, I did my mediation/deep breathing exercise 16/31 days. In February, I did my mediation 10/28 days. I then held my breath from March until August. No deep breathing and mediation for me. I’ve started up again though. I’m happy to say that I’ve done my 10 minute routine for 2 days this week. It’s a new start and I know I can always start again. That’s what is great about life and goals. You can always start again.

2. Exercise five days a week for at least 30 minutes

I exercise more than I used to, but I honestly forgot to track my exercising after the month of January.

3. Find something funny every day

This one is easy, because there are lots of funny things that happen all the time. In fact, I had something funny happen yesterday while I was bowling with my league. They had a drawing with raffle tickets last. No one in our team won. I took all those losing raffle tickets and made a little tower out of them. I carefully stacked the tickets on top of each other into an intricate little design. I was very proud of my raffle ticket tower and announced to my friend Sara that I had made a masterpiece. Sara said, “Your house is made of cards, Amee”. Then she blew down the tower. The tickets flew all over the table. I laughed and laughed. I laughed until I started crying which of course made Sara laugh. It was funny. Then we laughed some more, because we were both laughing. Then Sara said that we both most be tired and that made us laugh even harder. It was true. We were both so exhausted that flying raffle tickets was the best thing that happened all week. It was kind of funny.

4. Eat a fruit or vegetable with every meal

I’ve done a great job with this one. I’ve been eating a fruit or vegetable at every meal. I’ve been tracking it to on my little food diary. Go me!

5. Do something social with friends once a week.

Check. I’m doing this one.

6. Write down all of my negative thoughts and try to re-frame them in a little cognition journal.

Back in February, I said that I had forgotten about this goal. Guess What? I forgot about it again. I royally flopped and failed on that goal. I wonder if I can re-frame that last sentence. “Even though I just lived with all my negative thoughts for nine months of 2016, I still deeply love and respect myself. I didn’t fail on this goal, I failed forward on this goal.” Ha Ha Ha. I re-framed it. Bingo. I can mark the goal complete now.

7. Leave work by 4:30 p.m. every day. I won’t be able to do all of these happy brain/happy body things if I work all the time.

I’m doing better at leaving work by 4:30 every day, but my brain still forgets sometimes to stop teaching at night. For example, two weeks ago I had one of those teacher dreams where I was teaching lessons all night long. It’s really hard to go to work the next day after you’ve been working all night.

Wow! I’m impressed with myself. Even though I forgot my New Year’s Resolutions, I’m still mostly on track. I should forget my New Year’s Goals more often.

How are your New Year’s Goals going?

“Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. “–Mother Teresa

Memory Lane · Musings

September 11th

September 11, 2016September 11, 2016 my13daychallenge

“Dad, I’m coming home. The world is falling apart and teacher college forgot to tell me what to do when that happens.”

I was crying when I called my parents. I had been driving to work when I heard that the Twin Towers had been hit by an airplane. The man on the radio announced the attack and my whole body started to shake. I was no longer the confident, unstoppable graduate with a new car, a cell phone and my very first teaching contract. I was a frightened little girl who needed her parents. My Dad answered the phone.

“You can’t come home yet, Amee. You’ve got a classroom full of kids and a job to do. Those kids need to know that their teacher will do her best to take care of them. Once school is out, come home and Mom and I will give you a hug.”

I didn’t like that answer even though I knew my Dad was speaking the truth. I wanted to go home, and I knew I had a job to do. I had to go to school. I needed to acknowledge any fears the students brought up and then I had to follow our normal classroom routine for the day. It was what I could do to help. Dad offered to pray with me. He said a beautiful prayer. He prayed for the firefighters, for the people trapped in the building, for the people who were scared, he prayed for me, for my students, for our country, for the President, for every one who was impacted, for our family members who lived in New York City and that the world would have peace.

It’s been 15 years since that fateful day on September 11th. The world has experienced a few more fall apart moments. The lesson I learned from my Dad during 9-11 has stuck with me. I’ve thought about it several times over the years.

There are times in life when things occur that you have no preparation for and no idea what to do. When you don’t know what to do, I try to remember my Dad’s words to me on 9-11. Say a prayer and then keep going on trying to do your best. At the end of the hard day, go home to get a hug.

create · Musings · positive thinking

The Magic

August 26, 2016August 26, 2016 my13daychallenge

There is a scene in the Wizard of Oz movie that I love. Dorothy has just defeated the wicked witch with the help of her friends and a bucket of water. The good witch Glinda comes and with a friendly smile tells Dorothy that she’s always had the power to go home. Dorothy just needs to tap her ruby slippers and believe that she is a magical person. It’s a profound moment. Dorothy realizes anything is possible.

Here are my slippers. I’m ready for my magic to start.

“You’ve always had the power, my dear. You just had to learn it for yourself”.–Glinda from the Wizard of Oz

joyful moment

Joyful Moment #203

August 15, 2016August 15, 2016 my13daychallenge

There are some really cool looking mushrooms growing in the grass in front of my church. I need to restate that. There were some really cool looking mushrooms in the grass. They aren’t there any more because I kicked them.

If you have never kicked a mushroom, you should go try it. They fly into the air with just a little tap of the foot. I giggled the entire time. It felt very mischievous. Some of the mushrooms flew so high that they went onto the street. It was fun.

Kicking the mushrooms

Yes, it was a joyful moment. It’s joyful moment #203.