Showing posts with label gratitude. Show all posts
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Life's GPS
Today I'm still thinking about that student who called me his map. On a follow-up conversation Friday morning, he said that I was his GPS. His Gruener Positioning System. Isn't that so sweet? When he realized his name also starts with a G, he said it should really be called a G2PS.
What he doesn't know is that on Friday, shortly after that fun conversation, I was having a little full-blown meltdown over something that today seems really insignificant and small. And you know why?
Because I was letting some trivial small stuff overwhelm me and
overshadow the awesomeness
that should have been looming larger than life,
like the fact that The Giving Tree at our Book Fair
was picked clean so that our friends who might not
have gotten a new book this time around did,
the fact that to keep up with our bigger class sizes this year,
three ukuleles that were donated to our Lab on Friday
just in time for Social Stations to start on Monday,
and the fact that our upcoming SOCKtober collection will allow us to celebrate our riches by helping warm up the homeless.
These things matter so much more than that pesky tough stuff.
How quickly we can descend from the mountaintop into the valley
and how difficult it can be to get back up.
But get back up we must.
And I have an idea how my student's G2PS idea can help.
What if G2PS stood for a Gratitude & Goodness Positioning System, if in the tough times we were grateful for the good things.
Intentionally.
On purpose.
With resolve.
What if we took a page out of the Scott Hamilton book of life
and embraced challenges as opportunities to get up and grow?
Just recently diagnosed with his third brain tumor,
he's choosing to focus on celebrating life,
and he's grateful to have been
"blessed beyond my wildest imagination."
Or a page from the book of our favorite ventriloquist Dennis Lee.
He had a horrible car collision this past spring that left his left side broken from head to toe. He still uses crutches to get from pillar to post.
But it didn't break his spirit.
As he gets up and continues his trek around the globe,
his motivational message doesn't focus on asking why?,
but instead, why not?
Why not try?
Why not use tragedy to triumph?
Why not find the blessings in the burden?
So vulnerable.
So inspiring.
So real.
On the mountaintop.
And in the valley.
Gratitude and goodness.
In all things.
How much better could life be if we would all get back up
and forge forward into our new normal fueled by
hearts full of overwhelming gratitude and goodness.
Talk about your road map to success ...
Sunday, August 21, 2016
Retiring Reflections
It was on Mothers Day, about three and a half months ago, that I decided it was time to retire from blogging. And while I did have a wonderful break from it, I have missed the reflection piece that journaling my thoughts and sharing them online offers. I've also missed the creative outlet I get from the writing process. So, I've decided to come out of my self-imposed retirement {or maybe it was just a summer break} as I start my 33rd year in public education. I was invited to inspire character educators at six different venues this summer, so I am
re-energized and ready to grow.
One of my workshop participants made this for her office
from something I said over and over again this summer.
Thank you, Toni, for bringing my reflection to life.
One of my workshop participants made this for her office
from something I said over and over again this summer.
Thank you, Toni, for bringing my reflection to life.
My first share? A growth-mindset song I wrote this morning:
Now I just need to get really good at it on my ukulele!
What would you say if you were to write verse two?
We were blessed to hear Liz Murray last week;
here's what she said that stuck.
I know, right? Let that power-bite sink in for a bit.
I actually got kind of carried away tweeting her thoughts as she shared:
She added that, "People will grow into the conversation you create around them." So today I'm thinking about how her words of wisdom will change me,
help make me better at what I do.
For now, I'm gearing up to cartwheel on in to the new school year tomorrow. Thank you, Jennifer Runde, for capturing passion in this photo.
courtesy of our FISD Leadership Team.
Happy new year; it feels good to be back at the Corner.
Monday, May 2, 2016
Increase The Dose
It's Mental Health Month and my guest post over at Free Spirit Press focuses on a mind, body, spirit three-pronged approach to mental health and wellness.
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| Click the graphic to go read the post. |
What are your go-to strategies to maximize your mental health?
One huge thing for me after the trauma of that head-on collision was finding things to be thankful for, blessings in the burden. Did you know that gratitude can tack on up to seven years of life? Gratitude creates such a win-win because it blesses the giver and the recipient.
This week is Teacher Appreciation Week 2016, so I set out to thank our school staff by putting these little sticky-note pads together for them today.
It made my heart happy to spread a little sunshine.
Yesterday I was blessed by the invitation to give a one-hour keynote about grace at the women's renewal retreat at our church. Committee members made one of these for each of us. Don't you love this? Grace.
To close today, a few reflections to ponder from my research and presentation.
For more from Craig Denison, visit First15.org
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| Photo credit: Amy Homa |
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| Photo credit: Jennifer Runde |
So I ask you the same question I posed to retreat participants:
How will you increase the dose this week?
Saturday, April 9, 2016
Limiting Mobility
Today I'm feeling vulnerable as we near the one-year mark of when I was told about my transfer from my school family of fourteen years to our sister school next door. I'm thinking a lot about who I am, where I belong, and what I'm meant to do. I'm also wrestling with the thoughts that get in the way,
that are limiting my mobility as I bounce forward into the future.
Ironically, I saw these parking spots when I dropped Joshua off for a French horn lesson this morning. And I laughed. Not because of their literal use, which I find the perfect example of empathy, compassion and kindness for people with physical limitations, but because of the metaphor they represent to me as I reflect more on the emotional challenges this year has brought with it.
Maybe some of my sometimes reflections will resonate with you.
Sometimes I feel like I'm drowning in a sea of self-doubt.
Sometimes I lack trust and nothing seems to anchor me.
Sometimes my errant beliefs get in my way.
Sometimes my anxiety finds me stuck in the past.
Sometimes my worries find me stressed about the future.
When these sometimes that threaten to limit my mobility happen,
Through my struggle, I keep coming back to the gift of a
sidekick.
That's the friend who checks in on you.
The one who asks how you're doing.
The one who's okay with it if when you start to cry.
The one whose presence says, "You matter to me."
Sidekicks love unconditionally.
They extend grace lavishly and forgive over and over again.
They understand stuff about you
that you may not even understand yourself.
And they accept you for who you are, struggles and all.
So today I'm feeling vulnerable and overwhelmingly grateful
to the sidekicks who have been walking alongside of me this past year,
both literally and figuratively,
ready with a listening ear, a kind text or email, a smile, a hug.
{Even when I don't want a hug. Especially when I don't want a hug!}
For being strong when I'm not.
For telling me that that's okay.
For helping me love what is.
And let go of what no longer is.
For reminding me that there is a Higher Power.
And ensuring that I trust that it's all a part of His plan.
For helping me bloom where I'm planted.
And for seeing limitless possibilities instead of
limited mobility.
To my sidekicks:
You know who you are.
Please know how thankful I am.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Peace And Plenty
As we say good-bye to 2015 and start our 2016 story,
I'm reflecting on my one little word for this past year:
harmony.
The first definition in the dictionary has to do with musical notes struck simultaneously to produce a pleasant sound; the second definition?
Agreement or concord.
And as I reflect, I'd like to say that because I chose harmony as my focus word, that this year fell beautifully into place like the notes on a John Williams' score. But, alas, that wouldn't be painting an honest or accurate picture of how it went. In reality, a good part of my 2015 was out of harmony for me. Some of the discord was downright painful, but in hindsight, I'm convinced that those times served an important purpose, to stretch and grow me, and for that, I'm thankful.
And, just because God has a keen sense of humor, look what I spied in the butterfly garden at Bales earlier this week when I was showing my sister around.
I'm sure it has been there every time I've sat out there with a student this semester; it just took me looking at my new surroundings again through a different lens to find harmony where it has been all along.
Life's funny like that, isn't it?
We also got a sneak peek at the progress of our new mural.
Isn't it going to be a valuable addition to that hallway?
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| Click the picture for more information about Murals by Kathy. |
So as we move forward into a new year, today I'm enjoying the memories of these past two weeks spent putting puzzles together ...
... and finishing a furniture-restoration project,
of our hearts and our home filled with so much JOY . . .
that even our backyard birds are chirping with delight.
Warm reflections of walks and talks and card games and Hallmark movies,
of eating in and eating out, of smiles and satisfaction.
Life feels harmonious again. And I'm filled with gratitude.
Our last night of extended-family holiday togetherness found us watching
the UW Badgers battle to win the Holiday Bowl.
And as I write this, my Dad and his wife are on the road headed back home after a dozen days with us; my sister and her husband are en route home by air. My brother and his girlfriend have returned to Wisconsin, too, and the college kids will spend New Year's Eve with their friends in their perspective college towns.
I'll sign off with this sign that my sister brought from my mom's kitchen for mine, my wish for you, dear reader, in 2016 and beyond.
Happy New Year.
Monday, November 16, 2015
A 'Tweet' Way To Give Thanks
Today I'm grateful because Free Spirit Press invited me to be a guest blogger in their Counselor's Corner column while Danielle is away on maternity leave. My first post for them, After The Trauma: Treating PTSD in Children, is now live.
I'm also happy because of the fun I had with this idea:
It's gratitude with a twist because I put this basket in the staff lounge ... at my old school, to 'tweet' my former faculty, to #CelebrateMonday by being thankful.
Author Douglas Wood said it best: We don't give thanks because we are happy. We are happy because we give thanks.
I also updated my Connections Countdown calendar with a few new connection ideas as we prepare for the holiday season.
Might be kind of cool to give your students a blank copy
and see what innovative ideas they'd like to try.
Megan over at Coffee Cups and Crayons has something similar, a Random Acts of Christmas Kindness calendar; click {here} to download hers.
Even NBC is climbing aboard the Kind-Acts Train.
Finally, check out this Gratitude Experiment clip.
I think you'll be glad that you did.
How did you #CelebrateMonday?
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
I Love That He Bounces
Today I'm excited because I took the character cam out and saw so much goodness on our campuses. First, this Thankful Turkey crafted by the first-grade team. All of their thankful things are beautifully displayed on the colorful feathers.
Then, this note from a third-grade girl, for me.
When I asked her about it, she told me that she drew it to be "kind of like an Amusement Park ride because kindness makes everybody happy." I didn't think it could get any more magical than that, until I saw what a PAL had worked on with the third grader she mentors. Can you imagine how cool it must be to see yourself through your role model's eyes?
She made their time together interactive ...
by asking him leading questions ...
about how he puts our Pillars of Character ...
into action. Be still my heart.
Then I snapped this shot of an owl silhouette that just showed up last week. Mysteriously. On my wall.
It took me a day or two to figure out whoooooooo
would leave me such a beautiful surprise.
Doesn't it fit perfectly?
And to close, my personal story of the day about our youngest child, Joshua.
Today as I was visiting with our high school PALs teacher, she remarked that she saw Joshua bouncing down the halls yesterday, en route to his chemistry class.
"He doesn't walk, you know," she told me. "He bounces."
Then she added, "I love that he bounces."
It warms my heart that she sees the beauty in the bounce. We talked about him for awhile, what he's working on, how he's doing. She normalized some junior-year behaviors and, as always, offered to check on him and help if ever he needs anything. When we hung up, I found myself thinking that we are abundantly blessed to have caring adults who notice and appreciate the small stuff, like the spring in his step, about Joshua.
So this afternoon, I sent her this affirmation:
I love that you know that he bounces.
And I smiled.
Sunday, November 8, 2015
The Gift Of Gratitude
Let's talk gratitude. A month or so ago, I was invited by Shelley Burgess to guest moderate a Twitter Chat {#satchatwc}. When I selected a November date, I just knew my topic would have something to do with thanks-giving.
Today, I'm sharing how that chat yesterday went.
Click {here} to read the archives; enjoy these highlights.
First, I asked participants to introduce themselves and share a favorite quote, thought, or reflection about gratitude. Here's mine.
There were SO many inspirational quotes shared,
like this one from my Principal friend, Beth Houf.
After about 7 minutes of sharing, I posed the first question on this beautiful picture of last week's rainbow, taken by my friend Jen.
Here are just a few of their awesome answers:
Seven more minutes passed, and then came question two.
I shared this infographic from the Templeton Foundation:
After we talked about the benefits of gratitude, we moved on to
question three, which asked participants to share their promising practices for nurturing gratitude in their students.
From students, we went on to showing gratitude to faculty & staff.
Someone shared this cool idea for a staff WoW journal.
Then I challenged my Tweeps to go deeper ...
... and deeper.
Some of the answers were heartbreaking.
Gratitude through cancer.
Gratitude through student suffering.
Gratitude through broken trust.
And yet, gratitude has gotten them through the tough times.
Now that's thanks-living.
And our final question:
Did you know there's an APPreciation app?
Check out Gratitude 365.
Then it was action time. The Challenge:
How will you make gratitude a verb?
It was so much fun to come up with these questions and then experience the generosity of these gratitude gurus.
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| Click to learn more about The Zen Teacher book. |
So today I'm celebrating the gift of gratitude and I thank you, dear reader, for being in my Corner. I'm grateful for you. Every day.
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