What Thanksgiving Means to Me

Happy Thanksgiving! While it's true for every holiday, this day means something different to each of us. We all have different memories connected to Thanksgiving. Whether it means putting together a backyard football team, a house full of screaming kids, or your grandma's famous pecan pie, our memories are equally special.

I am not a person that invites a lot of chaos into my life. I'm not very good with "flying by the seat of my pants." This can be difficult on days like Thanksgiving because flexibility is a must. People are coming and going, conversations are constantly flowing, and the food is everywhere. In many ways, the whole day leaves me feeling a little bit anxious; however, this anxiety is soon cancelled out by the joy my family brings me. What I love the most about Thanksgiving is the laughter. Sarcasm is the vehicle in our family, and laughter is the tool that drives it. That's how we interact, and I would have it no other way.

The days leading up to Thanksgiving, I spent time reading various quotes and verses bathed in ideas of giving thanks. A common theme was to give thanks for all things.  You may be thinking, "duh!" But, do we really do that? Are we thankful for the times when life didn't go our way? There are aspects of my life that I struggle with; am I supposed to be thankful for these battles? The answer is simple: Yes.

It's important to be thankful for everything. Those battles we fight make us who we are. The scars we carry tell the story of our past and lead us into the future. 

Have a blessed day!

What I Love About Sundays

When I was growing up, we had a pretty regular schedule each Sunday. We'd head to Sunday school followed by a service at our traditional Methodist church. After throwing on some comfy clothes, our family would have dinner (usually a roast that smelled oh-so-good!). The afternoons were lazy -- filled with homework, naps, and football. Of course, we always made it up to open gym by late afternoon. While the routine would vary each week, one thing always stayed the same -- the tempo of the day. Sundays were always a little bit slower, and I preferred it that way. Monday morning was looming in our minds, but it didn't take away from the joy of the sun peaking through the front room window as we lounged around together as a family.

As we grow up and change, our routines do the same. When I left for college, the slowness of Sunday followed me; however, this pace wasn't quite as comforting. I still attended church and threw on sweats as I studied in my dorm room. It was always so quiet -- college kids napping and, let's face it, hungover. With all the stillness came time to think -- too much time to think. I always found Sundays to be a little depressing in college. Maybe it was the feeling of being homesick. Maybe it was the lack of "normalcy." Whatever it was, I was often sad on Sundays.

Now that I am little bit more settled in life, I've created yet another Sunday routine. To be honest, I love it. Since I've never learned to sleep in, I'm usually up before the world. I workout and then sit and enjoy coffee as I write. After church, I sit at a coffee house listening to music with lesson plans, a book, or my computer. It's a time to center myself before beginning another week. I wouldn't trade this time for anything.

I know this routine will change once again as I continue to grow. But what I love most about Sundays is the stillness and slowness, and that will never change.

Those Relationships for Those Kids

I was reminded again this week of the importance of relationships. More importantly, I was forced to take a step back and listen. In the weeks before an anticipated break, it’s easy to become tired - physically, mentally, and emotionally. Kids get a little testy, and it’s difficult to not respond in the same manner. 

Every teacher knows that each year there are at least one or two of “those kids.” The kids that get under our skin - in both good and bad ways. They make you mad, sad, irritated, proud, but most of all, they challenge you. As a teacher, the issues they face, you do too. We take it home with us, wrestling with new ideas to make the situation better. 

This week, I was working with one of “those kids.” Failing grades, a less-than-desireable attitude, and swear words to top it all off. I know he has the ability to be great. While the odds are against in for more than one reason, he has the skills and knowledge. More than once this week, I sat down with him. We talked about grades, attitude, but mostly, I just listened. I’m not sure anyone ever does that, and I wanted him to know that I care. I told him that he mattered and I wanted him to succeed -- in school, but mostly, in life. We’ve gone round and round this school year. Sometimes I think it’s working, and then I get frustrated again. It’s hard work, but I keep on because I expect him to do the same. At the end of the day when my hair is flat, feet are pounding, and brain is fried, I won’t give up on him. I won’t throw him in the “helpless” pile. 

Today we worked on another assignment together. He got it done and turned in to his teacher. While there may have been some choice words along the way, it’s one more assignment down. I’m thankful that he will work for me, and I’m glad to continue building this relationship. As he walked out the door this afternoon, he said, “Have a great weekend, Nelson.” Yep, we’re getting somewhere. 

Full Heart

Teaching is a unique profession. It’s an emotional roller coaster that relies on the moods of others… not just any “others,” but in my case, teenagers. Lesson plans change. We all learn to adapt. Some days are challenging, while others seem to go on without a hitch. It’s kind of great though because every day is a new start. Each morning I am blessed the promise of a new day and so are my students.

Last year I was going through a lot of personal issues. It was hard to shake it off and teach as if everything was okay. One of my students asked what was going on. Obviously I don’t go around sharing personal issues with them, and I caught myself snipping back with, “I know it’s hard to believe, but I have problems outside of school that don’t have to do with you.” In retrospect, this probably was not the right thing to do; however, they acted much different towards me that day. They were a little bit more compassionate and stayed on task. Why did they do this? Because of the relationship that we had built as a class. 

Caring for my students has always been a priority for me as a teacher. I want them to feel safe and comfortable when they come into my room. Each of them matters and they need to realize that. I bring a lot of their issues home with me. I genuinely want each of them to succeed. Many days I leave school tired and warn out, but every day I leave with a full heart. 

A Lesson in Contentment

The end of last week was a little chaotic. I had family staying at my place for different reasons. While it was a little unexpected, I was able to spend time with my mom and brother, watch football until I was blue in the face, and enjoy a few belly laughs. Since I’ve lived alone for so long, I forget how comforting it can be to have people around.

With all of that said, by the time Sunday afternoon rolled around, feelings of discomfort began to set in. For some reason, I was feeling uncomfortable and unsettled. I drove home after church and shopping with a pounding headache. I started wishing I had an extra day in the weekend. I was sure I had a lot to do in order to get prepared for the week, but I was not in any mood to work at school or do a yoga sequence. I simply wanted to lie on the couch and feel sorry for myself. Why was in such a mood? This discontent rolled on throughout the day until I slid into bed with a book in hand.

This morning, I tried to wrap my head around those feelings of discomfort. I went for a run on the treadmill, which always helps to clear my mind. I came to school in a fairly good mood, but that “spark” just hasn’t been there today. As I sat at my computer, I was reminded of a quote from Rick Warren, “God is more interested in your character than your comfort. God is more interested in making your life holy than he is making your life happy.”

I’m looking for comfort when maybe God is trying to stretch me; He’s trying to help me build character. Many times it’s hard to understand what God is doing… what He’s planning. Right now, it’s all pretty unclear, but I keep trusting. When things get difficult, I turn to Him for answers. And when those answers don’t come, I must learn to wait… patiently.

Limitless

My sister and I used to always talk about how we loved the phrase, "Be fearless." It's such a strong statement that allows us to dream. There is no reason to fear; we should simply live each day as it comes and embrace all it's wonder.

I was reading an article titled "Why the 'Future' is the New Swear Word for College Students" on Thought Catalog. The author discussed our culture's need to be constantly planning for the future. I see this a lot with my students (especially seniors). They have people coming at them from all angles telling them they need to apply for scholarships, start deciding on a college, and once in college, they must determine a major. It's a lot for anyone to take in, especially someone who is barely an "adult."

Why do we feel the need to plan? Why do we feel that there are time limits on when things are supposed to happen? I'm sure much of this comes from our need to fit in and the constant comparisons we make with those around us. It's easy to say that we don't care about what others think, but this simply isn't true.

What do we do when things don't go as we planned? I know I start to feel defeated. I lose sight of my purpose. Quite frankly, I throw myself a pity party and invite everyone around me. (You're welcome.) But what if I decided to take a different approach? As mentioned in the article, the future is limitless. We can dream and wonder. We can stand and face the future fearlessly, knowing that the possibilities are endless. The future doesn't have to be scary. In fact, it's anything but... it's limitless.

Thoughts That Become Words

Isn't if funny how quickly we forget? The days go by, and we forget important aspects that steer us from the happiness that we all deserve. This time change has really got me confused. I realize that I actually have gained an hour of sleep, but for some reason I'm waking up long before my alarm, leaving me sleepy and a tad bit crabby by the end of the day.

This morning I started thinking about the choices we make each day. Not just in our actions, but in our thoughts. It's so difficult, nearly impossible, to change our thoughts. Our mind wanders to places we don't want to visit. We think about the past and fret about the future. We create scenarios in our minds, most of which will never take place.

Cue self-discipline exercises. Is it possible to shift our thoughts to a "happy place?" The answer is yes, but it takes work. We must make a point to bathe in positivity rather than negative thoughts. Not only does this make our days much more enjoyable, but it makes us kinder people. You see, our thoughts become our words. Because I am a person that wrestles with self-worth, those negative thoughts become the words that I speak to myself. It's much easier for me to give someone else a compliment, as opposed to myself. I know that I'm not alone on that one. In Proverbs 18:21 it reads, "Those who love to talk will experience the consequences, for the tongue can kill or nourish life." The tongue, our words, make all the difference. We have a choice as to how we think, talk to ourselves, and talk to others. I don't know about you, but I choose happy thoughts.

Remember the Why

Mondays can be tough. You're coming off a weekend when you made your own schedule. Maybe you laid in bed and watched four Lifetime movies on Sunday (not that I've ever done that). Maybe you spent your Saturday tracking the spread of NCAA football in order to place bets with your buddies. Whatever you did this past weekend, it was your choice. But, as we all know, the weekends are short; Mondays tend to sneak up on us.

Yesterday I started thinking about the upcoming week. For some reason, I started to get excited. While it should be a pretty typical week, I just felt happy about the promise of starting fresh. The possibilities and opportunities that are in store for me -- for you -- are unknown, but endless.

Maybe my positive attitude this morning is making you want to vomit? I don't blame you. If this is the case, it may be time to remember why you started. Whatever you are about to embrace this week, remember what led you up to this point. Why did you decide to embark on this particular journey? Sometimes when I am frustrated at school, I think back to why I decided to go back to become a teacher. I remember why I was called to teach -- to allow teenagers in my classroom to share their stories. While they may not always be super excited about writing a piece of fiction or reading Edgar Allan Poe, I can encourage them to be their best selves. Each day is a new start for them, me, and you. If it's hard to get out of bed today, remember the why.

The Wind Beneath My Wings

Today is my mom's birthday! While I'm not (physically) with her today, I am throwing confetti around (figuratively) in her honor :-)

One of my favorite memories with my mom happened when I was a little girl. Her and I were sitting on the couch watching Beaches with Bette Midler. If you've ever seen the film, you know there is a point when "Wind Beneath My Wings" comes on and the waterworks begin to fall. It's truly inevitable. My mom told me that she looked over at my four-year-old self, and I was crying. She has since made the remark that she didn't realize a little girl could cry like that while watching a movie. That song, that movie belong to my mom and me.

The lyrics of that song speak much to the relationship between a mother and her daughter. Because my mom has lived longer than me, she walks a step behind as I make and learn from various mistakes. She knows just when to step in and say, "Be patient. God's got this, Anna." As we've aged, our relationship has sailed to a new level. We have our fair share of "teacher talk," and she is my accountability buddy in my faith. She is my friend. She carries my siblings and me throughout our lives, celebrating our victories and comforting our struggles. My mom is the wind beneath my wings. I love you, Mom!