Tag Archives: happiness

May31

Tenacity

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“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan, ‘press on’ has solved, and always will solve, the problems of the human race.”
Calvin Coolidge

Nothing impresses me more than a person with a goal and who is unwilling to give up. As a special education teacher I think my role, more than anything, has been to try and instill the belief that given enough hard work anything is possible. Watching the revelation that a student is capable of achieving a goal that they didn’t initially believe they could accomplish has been the joy of this job. Having been any part of making that happen for someone has been an absolute blessing in my life.

I think that is what makes moving on to something new so difficult. I have made my mind up, but can’t seem to give my resignation. Then, I remind myself that I have something just as important to accomplish in this new role. I thought when I decided to teach that I would be teaching. Seems like something easily assumed, right? But instead I find I spend most of my days responding to emails, testing, writing reports and in meetings. Often, I’m forced to hand over my lessons and ideas to a tutor who then teaches my class. It has actually become a treat to be able to interact with the students. Enough! But still I can’t seem to resign. I do love the students and I enjoy my role in lives but that isn’t enough anymore.

My hope for this new chapter is that I’m able to instill that knowledge that anything is possible given enough tenacity and persistence. I may even need the occassional reminder of that myself!  I hope that if I can offer support and also believe enough in someone at the right time, that they may be able to truly believe in themselves. That is the part of this job that has made me come in every morning and if I can recreate that I’m sure I will again feel just as blessed.

Good luck is another name for tenacity of purpose.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

 

May26

Aspirations

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Never mind searching for who you are.  Search for the person you aspire to be.  ~Robert Brault

So, here is an update from the road along the way to becoming who I am. This weekend I am incorporating Magnolia Beginnings as an official 501(c) 3 corporation. I will have also signed the marketing agreements for the business that will fund the nonprofit and next week I will sign the agreements with the auto dealers who I will provide administration of their warranty and insurance products. This time next week I’ll be in business. Deep breathe! This time next month I expect to have the seed money accumulating for the nonprofit micro-lending program. Huge deep breathe!!

So far, the incorporation of the core business and the nonprofit alone will have cost in excess of $1000, and I have experience doing this so I did it all myself including the legal work. My goal is when a single mother has a viable idea for starting a business that will support her family Magnolia Beginnings will be able to fund the start up costs and provide the necessary advice and guidance to get her going.

Remember when you first started riding a bike and you had to look around and make sure someone else saw it too, because you just couldn’t believe it? I’m starting to feel just like that! Woohoo no hands next ; ). 

May23

Changes

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“You know the great thing, though, is that change can be so constant you don’t even feel the difference until there is one. It can be so slow that you don’t even notice that your life is better or worse, until it is. Or it can just blow you away; make you something different in an instant. It happened to me.”  From the movie My Life as a House

This is one my favorite movies and definitely worth watching. The concept that life can change in just a minute is one that has always fascinated me.  It reminds me to be thankful for all that I have including the love of the people closest to me, my good health and intellect, and even the very ability to change my circumstances if I choose to. Life can change all or any of that in a second and we often don’t take the time to appreciate the simple pleasures of life until they are taken away or threatened.  Instead we often focus on the negative and lose sight of the every day gifts we possess.

In an instant we change our thinking or make a positive decision that will change our lives and possibly the lives of those around us.  How often has someone just said the right words or have you met the right person at the right time? Changing your life really can be as easy as changing your mind. The decision to stop an unproductive behavior or create a life affirming change can be as simple as the realization and then going forward and acting on it.  Many times in my own life everything just became very clear in an instant and I can look back to the very moment where I just had to make a change, knew what I wanted my life to look like, and could see what I needed to do. What an awesome feeling that is!

So go out and tell someone thank you or that you love them or just notice something positive. You never know when that small thing you say can change another person’s life.

Have a wonderful day!

May22
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“Often people attempt to live their lives backwards. They try to have more of what they want so they will be happier. The way it actually works is the reverse. You first must be who you are, then love what you do, in order to have what you want.”
– Margaret Young

Just about through step one and moving forward in to step two….

“Often people attempt t…

May21

Positive thoughts

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“The thought manifests as the word; The word manifests as the deed; The deed develops into habit; And habit hardens into character. So watch the thought and its ways with care, And let it spring from love born out of concern for all beings.” 

— Buddha

Today I am going to focus on my thoughts. Lately,

I’ve felt that I am so focused on the future that I am allowing myself become very unhappy in my present work situation. I suppose that the true test of who you really are is how you think and behave in the circumstances that are difficult. So, today I’m going to concentrate on loving, postive thoughts. Join me?