Day 12 Of Forty Days Of Gratitude

Today was another long day. I had to stay after school for our semi-annual meeting with people from the business community. I like how the meetings run now that we began inviting kids from our classes to talk about what they have learned. I actually thought of that idea a couple of years ago and I think it really hits a chord with everyone who attends.

Today I received a box with new Hershey's Dots. I haven't tried them yet but they look like M&M's without the candy shell.

I heard an interesting challenge today. The challenge was to complete the sentence I AM ___________. What am I? Am I generous? I feel I am. I try to be generous with my possessions and my time. I often go out of my way for others.

I am a good wife. Darryl says I am and I try to be but is that true?

I need to concentrate more on what I am and not what I am not. I need to concentrate more on becoming a better person. I need to define what it is I want to be.

Today my moment of gratitude was some smiles from students. I made a special point today to pay more attention to kids I normally don't spend more time with. They seemed so flattered and each of them smiled. This is a lesson that I should put into practice more on a daily basis.

Day 11 Of Forty Days Of Gratitude

The day began with a heavy downpour. Despite that my drive to work was uneventful.

I found if I ate my lunch very quickly I could just about run over to the gym to to my walk. I can then make four complete loops. I forgot to bring my pedometer but hopefully I will remember to do that real soon.

Today is our "favorite" day of the week because it's duty day. Every Wednesday we do morning duty and bus duty. Due to a faculty meeting after school, our afternoon bus duty was cut short.

Today we watched disk three of the Ruby Payne series, our boss decided that disk two was not necessary to watch. I try to look for one interesting story on the DVD and today's story was her story about taking a photo of a man in Haiti. The person in Haiti was handed a photo and he didn't seem to understand how his photo did not represent him in a 3D manner.

After school today I ran over to Walmart to buy my Halloween costume. It's a sort of witch costume with a big purple hat. Just as I was headed for the check-out I ran into a former student. I asked what he was doing and he told me that he was working and going to school. I was so very happy and grateful that I got to hear the my encouragement to further his education helped make a difference.

Day 10 Of Forty Days of Gratitude

This afternoon, just before my husband and I went for a walk a slight mist filled the air. I had stepped out with the dogs before we left and I looked up to see a rainbow. I stared at it for a moment and decided to dash inside for my camera.

In a matter of minutes I was back outside with my camera but the sun had moved ever so slightly and the rainbow had disappeared. In that moment I thought about how fleeting time can be and even the smallest shift in our paradigm can change everything. Then just as suddenly, just as unexpectedly, the rainbow once again graced the sky and I was able to take some photos. I was grateful for the beauty I was able to behold, if only for a few moments.

Darryl and I did go for a walk. I've been worried because my clothes seem to be fitting me different even though the scale is telling me that I weigh the same. For example I took out a pair of size five slacks that I have warn in the past but just as I got to my hips I had to give them a slight tug and a jiggle before I was able to get them on. I was able to zip them up and button them without sucking anything in but it just didn't feel right. Not too tight but not the way I liked for them to feel.

To be honest I used to walk about 10,000 steps per day and I have no earthly clue what I walk now but I'm certain it's not that much. I'm spending so much time on the computer trying to get caught up with all the stuff they want me to have accomplished with these new requirements.

I decided to try to do more walking but yesterday's rains prevent me from walking the school track. Instead I've been doing the inside gym walk. I wound up walking around the perimeter eight times today while at school and then I walked with Darryl on our usual walk. I think I should wear a pedometer to get a better idea of how far I'm really walking.

Day Nine Of Forty Days Of Gratitude

Today began with a big bang.

I had just taken the dogs back in after they had done their "business" when I heard a loud crack. It took me by surprise but almost immediately afterwards it sounded as though the sky opened up and the rain began to pour. I can only assume that my dogs were glad to have gotten back in before the rain began to fall because they both hate getting wet.

Sadly the weather was a factor in two wrecks right outside the front of the school. One of the cars was being driven by one of our teachers. She is doing fine and that's certainly good news.

Thankfully today I finished the PowerPoint that Mrs. F had asked me to update. I'm glad that's off my plate.

I was able to take a walk around the gym today. One of the secretaries told me that walking around the gym twelve times equals a mile. I was able to walk around six times during lunch. When Darryl got home he and I took a walk. The evening was warm without that wonderful breeze but it was still great walking weather.

I am grateful for my two dogs who always greet me as though I'm walking through the door carrying steaks. We got them both from the shelter years ago and they have brought me much happiness. Even as I am writing this they are both lying by the couch as though they can't bear for us to be apart.

A Day Of Gratitude Trebled

As I think about the things I am grateful for I would have to start with the fact that the Internet came back up today during second period. How great! Now my students could work on their projects.

I might also say that I am grateful for the fact that I found the cord that allows me to print from my computer. This really helps make things easier for me. You see ever since I had to move my desk I haven't been able to print anything so I had to save the documents and then walk down to the library to print it out there. Talk about wasted time.

Finally I was grateful for the cup of vanilla soft serve ice cream I enjoyed today. I loved the cream texture and I always love a treat.