Be Kind To One Another

I did something I never do. I watched the news. I sat there and watched the "world unfold" with its tragedies, its politics and its negativity. I then logged onto my laptop and reviewed all the stories around the world...and I sighed a big heavy sigh.

Where did kindness go? And how the heck do people find the time to berate, "tweet", and put down others? People say they are so busy...so busy doing what? Spreading dislike for others? Judging? Ick. Sorry, I would rather spend my time enjoying life.

Can we isolate ourselves from the world? No. We can always stand up for what's right and for what we believe in, of course. Everyone is unique on this planet. EVERYONE. We have minds and spirits within us and we all...yes ALL of us...have purpose.

At the beginning of the school year, I give my 5th grade students a stern speech about respect.
It goes something like this: "Here's the deal...you are in 5th grade...the big duck in a little pond. You are at the top of your school three times in life so cherish this time! I want role models coming out of my classroom. I want to see respect for one another. Are we all going to like each other all the time? Most likely, no. But we will respect each other, we will listen to each other, and most importantly, we will LEARN from each other."

Keep in mind, I am speaking to 10-11 year-olds. And guess what? They eat it up. We revisit this "talk" several times during the year, and do we have great days? Heck yes we do. And it makes the ugly, drama-filled, tear-stained hurtful days a lot easier. We learn from these days. And as a class, we sit and talk about them.

I haven't blogged in close to a year. My dear friend told me my teaching kids is a "daily blog" - and I laugh and maybe she's right. I write when I am inspired or intrinsically motivated to do so.

Be kind to one another. Regardless of your inside personal opinions, your outward behavior is witnessed by your kids, your family, your friends, your peers, your colleagues, your students, and your spirit. Negativity toxifies our spirits, spreads like wildfire and slows our learning. Strive to learn something new everyday and be kind to one another.

Lost - The Sequel

So it has been close to a year since my "Lost" post. When I was revisiting my blog today (shame on me it's been months but life is life, right?), I read my August 20th, 2013 post and I was immediately humbled. Self-reflection will do that!

I have finally landed a permanent job as a fifth grade teacher at an amazing school after two years of temporary contract positions. My kids will be with me at my new school, and the simplicity of that will help me "battle" the overwhelming job I have ahead of me this upcoming school year.

The question still looms...why do I still feel lost? I am in a career I have dreamed about pursuing for two decades. I have beautiful, healthy, smart children who still think I am awesome - for real! My friends and family keep me laughing and real (and a tiny bit insane), and my heart keeps me aware of the ongoing pursuit of happiness and the great task of trying to figure ME out.

What makes me tick? What intrinsically motivates me or makes me happy? It's common sense to know if mom is happy, the kids are happy, right? And if I can find an internal happiness and peace with myself, then finding happiness with someone else is a no-brainer, right? So how...how do I get there?

After yet another sleepless night, I mentally prepared an emotional "to do list".

1. Accept where I am at, no matter what the circumstances are, and if I want something to change, I need to act on it and DO something.

2. Stop thinking about the past. It's in the past. Learn from it. Move on.

3. Look at what I have...all my blessings, gifts, talents, and inspirations. Embrace them and share them, and keep them close to my heart for the tough times.

4. Tough times are going to happen. They shape us, and build our character. I read a quote this morning by Henry Ford. "Obstacles are those frightening things you see when you take your eyes off the goal."

5. Change doesn't happen overnight. And forcing things to happen will just put me down another wrong path. I need to let things happen. Pray everyday. And cease worrying.

I used to believe that thinking about me and my needs and my desires was a selfish thing to do. I would put everyone and everything ahead of me...assuming that was the right thing to do...the generous selfless thing to do. In reality, when you do not take time for YOU, it becomes a very selfish thing because you begin to rely on people and things to make you happy. You keep digging and digging a hole with the "shovel of saving the world". I need saving. And I am the only one who can do it! Starting with giving myself credit where credit is due, and realizing that my feelings matter. My dreams matter. My heart matters.

If you are feeling lost, you are not alone. But in order to find yourself, you need to prioritize yourself and come to the conclusion that it is OK to focus on you...on your spiritual and emotional growth. Each action we commit can have a rippling effect...a small wave of wrong choices and assumptions can turn into a tidal wave of hurt feelings and emptiness. Loving yourself is not a selfish thing. When you truly love you, you can love others better

Life's unexpectedness

It's been months since I have written...months since I have had the least bit of inspiration.

Today I am sitting on the beach on the east coast with my two awesome kids and I am full!! Full of peace and contentment and I feel centered. The roar of the unpredictable Atlantic Ocean fills my wind-chapped ears. I am watching my kids dig in the wet mud and build things...to only watch their masterpieces washed away by the salty foamy waves.

Life's daily challenges are sometimes so unexpected they can throw us for a loop and derail us. Self doubt and regret take their seat in our minds and we question everything and are left with slivers of hope...like broken glass on a floor, how do we "peace" it back together???

I fill my days with so much - packed absolutely chock a block full - and I realize that my personal growth and my continuous need to change and better myself is choking me! Choking the life and the inspiration out of me! I am me...I am strong. I am a mother and a teacher and a friend and a sister and a daughter. I have learned to love roller coasters at the age of 40 (oh did I fail to mention I turned 40 three blurry weeks ago!) and I am trying to embrace the quiet and truly change what NEEDS to be changed.

Whoah it's a lot but day by day, step by step I look around at the people in our lives and I become thankful that they are on this journey with me...riding the rollercoasters justifiably titled life's unexpectedness.

Lost...or found?

So I am in the strangest place I have ever been. Unemployed. Not by choice. After my school adventure came to an amazing finish in late July with the successful passing of my last state teaching exam, I have been unable to find a job. And to be honest, I am lost. I am in limbo and I do not like it.

Here's the thing...my internal compass isn't "working" either. After one decision is made, I reel back and all of a sudden I am unsure of myself, doubting every move I make and I am standing in this dense forest of life, with no sign of a path, or even a trickle of sunlight. I am truly lost. Or maybe, this place is exactly where I am supposed to be. Hey, I am the preacher of choosing our happiness, making new paths, and following our dreams right? I took this gigantic leap of faith, walked away from a salary job with benefits, to pursue my dream of teaching. So maybe I am not really lost at all...maybe I have found that no matter how SURE we are, how ON FIRE we are for something maybe life has a different plan for me? God is watching saying, "slow down Tiff! You have been a speed ball for years, never slowing and rarely breathing and taking just a moment to look around and SEE WHAT I AM DOING!"

Yes, I am going to find a job as a teacher. The perfect job is out there, waiting for me and in my 40th year on this planet (February will bring me officially into my 4th decade of life God-willing!) I am finally starting to figure it out. Timing. Timing is the "regulation of occurrence, pace or coordination to achieve a desired affect". In the recent past, I have discussed consequence. Well consequence tends to be an undesired affect of choices so....if I am wanting a desired affect - which of course is me landing a job as an elementary teacher near or at my children's school - then shouldn't I let timing take its lovely, patient and forever unpredictable course?

A friend of mine shared with me some very good advice when she was going through the uncertainties of life; she said, "Tiffany, don't let circumstance determine your faith but let your FAITH determine your circumstance!" With that being said, I am not unemployed. I am not lost. I am expecting...expecting a great and wonderful "affect" in the near future. The perfect job that God and my faith has determined. I will embrace and enjoy this time, and know that I always have what I need...and should never want for anything that is not meant for me to have.

The Beauty of a Broken Heart

When most people think of a broken heart, they think of something shattered and ugly and just downright scary. I know personally speaking, it is something I never could quite wrap my head (or my heart) around. The definition of a broken heart is "devastating sorrow and despair". Wow. Not something you can really go to the doctors for either, right?

So why, why why why do we continue to invest and weather the stormy unpredictable seas of love if we are just to end up in sorrow and despair? Is it because we are hopeful that this time...this one...will be different? Or maybe it is because we were created on a beautiful amazing foundation of love?

From my perspective, I will tell you a broken heart can happen with great love, with our children, with our family, and with our friends. There is no love like the unrequited love though. The love that knows no boundaries, no conditions, no judgement...just an endless hope that someday somehow it will all work out just right.

I rarely reflect on my own such experiences, especially this one. My heart is currently in a condition that requires much healing, much prayer, much understanding but most of all, it still requires much LOVE. I still believe in love and I still believe in forever. And as I listen to the cliches from friends "time heals all wounds" and "this too shall pass" and blah blah blah...I have no regrets, only memories and smiles and a beautifully broken heart.

Once you have felt that pain of the loss of your love, you heart will feel broken, and dead. It will feel empty, but always know that every heartbreak you have only means you're a step closer to your real love - Salma Rodriguez

No Guilt - Just Growth

Guilt is an exhausting feeling. And it is a cycle that I have found myself taking an unhealthy part in for years. So how do you move from a standpoint of guilt to growth? How do you let go of what wrongs have happened in your life to make room for all the rights?

Acknowledging you have a guilt problem is the first step! Once you admit it to yourself (no, I am not asking you to shout it from the rooftops "I FEEL GUILTY!") but looking in the mirror and saying enough is enough...I am ready to live - that is your first step.



The next step is discovering where and when the guilt cycle began. The third and final step is moving from guilt to growth. Learning from the mistakes, holding ourselves accountable, and moving forward. This step has proven to be my most challenging BUT the most rewarding one. Day by day...minute by minute I can feel the guilt leaving my thought processes and steadily being replaced with a positive outlook, internal motivation and the belief that after all that has happened, my life has potential. I can see the change in me reflected in my children's eyes. The closer I get to living guilt free the farther away I get from the anxieties and fears that have filled my daily life for the better part of my adulthood.

I am responsible for my happiness. I am responsible for my own growth. Guilt can be a heavy weight that holds you down from your life's purpose, and it can restrict your ability to grow and show the world your talents and your heart. Step lightly my friend, but step forward and press on!

“When guilt rears its ugly head confront it, discuss it and let it go. The past is over. It is time to ask what can we do right, not what did we do wrong. Forgive yourself and move on.” -- Bernie S. Siegel

On to the next chapter...

con·se·quence 

1.A result or effect of an action or condition.

 

Consequence.  In a way, we all live out an aspect of consequence every day.  We have all made different choices to get us to where we are at this very moment.  The idea of choice and consequence is actually the foundation of the book “The Travelers Gift” by Andy Andrews.  How we handle the consequences of our choices (whether they’re good or bad) is really what can create the long lasting change in our lives.

Have you ever read a book that is SO good you put all of your time and energy into reading it?   You know the book is going to end yet every free moment you have is spent turning those pages, eager for each detail.  The last page of the book…the last word…withdrawal sets in.  You do all you can to “re-enter” life but nothing fills the void.  Or maybe it was a special project you poured yourself into that is finished…or maybe it is even your favorite football team (by the way the Super Bowl is over!)

Back to my first point…consequence.  Consequence and balance fall hand in hand; when your life is out of balance, you will endure consequences.  We wake up, and try to be all things to all people. I like to think of an oven with all the burners set on high; no matter how hard you try and stir and maintain the four boiling pots one will spill over or something will get burned.  That’s why there are different settings on an oven and that’s we have to have different settings in our minds.   Our own wants and needs tend to get set aside and we go go go go go…then we break.  We break down and we break through. We tell ourselves “get up and start again” and without any choice, we do.  We look at what we have and it results in gratitude and humility.  And we progress without regret.

 

I feel a fire re-igniting from smoldering embers as I start the next chapter in my life.  One of focus and self-discovery.  Hopefully my writings will reflect it!  I just pray I have the strength to be what I need to be to all the beautiful children in my life – they are blessings from above and they look to me to BE their anchor in these stormy seas of life.