Let's Lighten Up!

​   

    Yesterday I was listening to a book called "The 4 Word Answer." This is a motivational book that is narrated by the author, Rob Shuter. I started listening to it when I saw him on a morning talk show. Since I have been drawn to motivational and self-help books these days- this struck a chord and I instantly ordered it through Audible. I didn't even listen to the sample. Well, that was a choice I am slightly sorry about. It' not because I don't like the content, but I am struggling with his voice. He sounds like he is selling his book content in a very long commercial on QVC. OK, that may be a bit harsh, but if you listen to it and want to argue the fact...feel free.

    Where am I going with all of this you might be asking yourself? I am going back to the first sentence of the post, of course! So, one of his ideas for being your best self is to make yourself aware of the negative messages that go through your mind or out of your mouth each day. He suggests that one might keep track of negative things that are said or thought over the course of one day. Only once you have really acknowledged that you are saying and thinking negative things will you realize the power that negativity has over your daily life. If you can turn that around and make a conscious effort to be more positive....I am sure you can guess the obvious outcome there.

    Needless to say, I have not yet counted all of my negativeness, but I have been looking for the positive. And it just appeared when I was watching my students sledding down the hill on a short break I gave them this morning. Today was just perfect. The sky was clear, the snow was fresh and the temperature was definitely inviting for playing during the winter. I let them do whatever they wanted (within school rules of course). Some of them were creating new trails, while others were sledding down the main course that the 1/2 class had just started for us. I sat in the snowbank and it struck me how much I enjoy just watching the kids have fun! No lesson to be learned. No worries about work to do. No bickering or arguing. Just plain old winter gaiety.

    I found myself laughing and smiling and my heart was filled with something akin to sunshine. After so many different little annoyances, personal problems, worry and stress, that this school year has provided to me, this was just the 15 minutes I needed to refill my positivity bucket. After that, I realized just how much my students also need to laugh and lighten up. We had a few more laughs the rest of the day and I left school feeling more lighthearted and a little optimistic.

    Clearly this year of school has been paved with sticky tar of negativity. However, if you are able to go "off roading" you may find that the edges have been smoothed down by the kids' sleds and it is much easier walking. So, if you or someone you know is stuck in the tar......give them a yank and drag them to the edge of sanity. It is there. It may be a narrow edge, but it may just be enough.