Perspective

Pausing on this Thanksgiving Weekend, I fell into some deep thought.

How grateful I am to be alive. 
Now, in the 21st Century.
Here, in America.
To be educated.
To be able to be independent.
To be healthy.
To be strong-willed and stubborn.
To be a provider.
To be quirky.
To be intelligent.
To be sarcastic.
To be myself.

I have watched countless documentaries, videos, History Channel specials, movies to remind myself of the horrors that humans can place on each other. 

What destruction Mother Nature can commit.
What illness and disease can do to a population.
What emotional turmoil can be created by one person's words.
What constant verbal abuse can do to a child.

Not that these things don't happen here, today, in our society - but I am thankful that we have some safeties in place to prevent and protect when they do.

Thank you America for my freedoms - for being a person, a woman, a parent, a teacher, and an independent thinker.  I appreciate those who came before me to pave the way for me to be me.

Now, how will I pave the way for the next generation...

Attitude of Gratitude

It's Spring time that brings bears out of their dens and gives me yet another time during the year to reflect on all that is good in my life.

I continue to be thankful for the people in my life.  Not just happy, but truly THANKFUL!

The kids still 'forget' to flush the toilet, but I'm thankful they're healthy and not in diapers or on dialysis...or worse.

My home may be messy, but I'm thankful I HAVE a home to live in (it's the 'lived-in look' anyway).

The 'Grandma Dog' Daisy (age 16!) barks incessantly at all hours, but I'm thankful she's still alive.

My job is stressful, but I'm thankful I HAVE a job!

My communication skills may need work, but I'm thankful I still have a voice (though some people would question that...).

My hair is graying and my knees crack, but I still have my health (though I wonder at times...).

My house is full of laughter and tears, lots of little feet (both human and canine) and a few broken items - but I'll take it any day of the week!!!

Tis the Season of Stress

As God opened a window, I didn't need to vent on this blog as much as I think I needed to earlier this fall. I survived the stressful time of the kids being away for 2 weeks halfway around the globe. I survived the field trip to DC. I survived the paperwork onslaught that work brings (though the pile is becoming greater as there are more responsibilities asked of us...I may be questioning my employment and looking for a transfer yet again).

As the season of giving approaches I am trying to take more time to reflect on my spiritual self, but that certainly is difficult to do with midterms and meetings and all that that entails. I need a few more hours in a day just to get by. And I also notice that the winter brings me to my hibernation phase, where I just want to hunker down under a warm blanket and catch up on the Twilight Zone or Seinfeld reruns. I think I was a bear in a former life.

I will, however, take on a new year's resolution: write a thank you note every day. Appreciate the people in my life, friends, neighbors, family, students, colleagues. Everyone needs a pat on the back for a job well done. I certainly appreciated the ones I've received in the last year, and I think I'm in a place to return the favor.