#blackouttuesday

Finding the JOY in the worry...

Unless you're living under a rock, you've likely been inundated with information about COVID-19 and the world-wide pandemic that is beginning. For my own sake, and maybe for yours, I need to write about JOY today. I need to choose joy, in the midst of all the worry. 

It seems as though "worry" has it's own energy, different from negativity and anger; it's something that I have yet to wrap my head around. It is hard to fend off and it is hard to ignore. Just like being in the midst of negativity or anger, we can work toward fighting this off through focusing on the opposite. What is the opposite of worry? Probably mindfulness. I need to take a page out of my own book and go back to the basics. Being mindful will help me be present and in the moment. Being present and in the moment will eliminate worry. Eliminating worry will remind me of all the JOY around me. Simple. 

With that said, I have to bring back my mantra for the school year, "what we see depends entirely on what we are looking for." Well, would you look at that?! Something I have been preaching all year proves to again be a solution to the problem. I was going crazy with all the talk about the corona virus, but now I can take a step back to look at what is really important. If I look for talk of the virus, I WILL find it. BUT, if I look for the positives, for the joy, I WILL find that too. 

Here's to finding your joy today... 

Change is in the air...

Summer Wishes

This time of year, I often write about the heartaches of summer as well as the excitement. It is important, for me, to remember and realize that the majority of my students struggle in the summer and on long breaks. A few years back I switched from my typical, "are you excited for summer?" question for students to a more appropriate one for my current student population: "how are you feeling about summer coming up?" With the former question, too often, I would get a negative response that surprised me when I first started working with a higher poverty population. Now, I can say that I am beginning to understand, though I will never truly understand. 

My hope for these students this summer is that they are able to relax, stay safe and find some love this summer. My hope is that they are able to laugh and play outside. My hope is that their choices throughout the summer reflect their hopes and dreams rather than their fears. I have to go into the summer believing that they will be in good hands and that the enrichment they received from staff all year will carry them through the summer. 

Now it is time to rejuvenate, prepare, learn and grow so that way I can come back next school year better than the last. 

Moments of Magic.

Where we focus our attention is such a critical piece of the puzzle of life... BUT, it's not often something we really think about.

This morning, after listening to the news where I was told that it was very chilly outside, I was a little disappointed. It was, in fact, chilly and I'd still need my winter coat. But when I went outside I realized that the sky was clear, the air was so fresh and crisp, and it was the most beautiful morning! I almost let the weather-lady taint my view of the day! If I had done that, I would have not stopped dead in my tracks to enjoy the calm of the water on the lake, the peace of the air and the silence that often accompanies the early mornings.

How do we shift our attention to more positive things if we are struggling to see the good in anything or tend to have negative mindsets regularly? The more clearly we focus our attention on small wonders and lovely realities, the less negativity that surrounds us. We raise our vibration or energy level to meet the goodness all around. Here's to a weekend/week ahead of raising that energy level and focusing in on all of the moments of magic!

Sometimes we all need a "pick me up"

I have a few people in my corner lately who could use a message of resilience and strength. Often, especially lately, I have pondered that ever present phrase, "everything happens for a reason." There are times when I love this phrase, and times when I hate this phrase. Is it true? How do we know? I tend to "just believe" it when I'm feeling more optimistic. Then, there are days that aren't as bright so I do not always believe the phrase, or even want to hear it at all. 

Today, I needed to remind myself to step back and smell the roses. Through even the toughest of times, there are always opportunities to bloom. Choosing to bloom is the tough part! How can I help those around me who are struggling to bloom? What is the best way I can be supportive? I worry that I am not enough to help, but hope that I am enough to get them started. Here's to hoping!

Fear.

I just started a new book about the process our brains go through after trauma and what this looks like throughout a lifetime. There is a lot to it and this makes it even more terrifying to raise a child! I thought this little reminder about fear was a good one to remind ourselves when it seems like things are too difficult sometimes.