The Last One

Today was the last day of my teaching. Feeling a tad melancholy. I can't help feel this way. I will miss some of them; my colleagues and students. At the same time, I'm glad that it will all be over.
I need to be far away from ill feelings bring thrown my way.
I will be starting anew in less than 4days time. A clean slate is possible. Sometimes it's better when you are unknown. No knows cares and no one talks.

I will miss my beautiful desk, where I've spent many late nights grading. Perhaps my new desk will be as awesome or even better.

Cheers to my beautiful faithful old desk I love.

A simple prayer

Dear Lord, "If I can't have what I want, let me want what I have".

Am I making a difference?

My colleague sent me this story about the teaching profession and how it should be viewed by people. I wonder all the time whether I'm actually making a difference?

One man, a CEO, decided to explain the problem with education. He argued,” What’s a kid going to learn from someone who decided his best option in life was to become a teacher?"

To stress his point he said to another guest; "You're a teacher, Bonnie. Be honest. What do you make?"

Bonnie, who had a reputation for honesty and frankness replied, "You want to know what I make? (She paused for a second, then began...)

"Well, I make kids work harder than they ever thought they could

I make kids sit through 40 minutes of class time when their parents can't make them sit for 5 without an I Pod, Game Cube or movie rental.

You want to know what I make? (She paused again and looked at each and every person at the table)

I make kids wonder.

I make them question.

I make them apologize and mean it.

I make them have respect and take responsibility for their actions.

I teach them to write and then I make them write.. Keyboarding isn't everything.

I make them read, read, read.

I make them show all their work in math. They use their God given brain, not the man-made calculator.

I make my students from other countries learn everything they need to know about English while preserving their unique cultural identity.

I make my classroom a place where all my students feel safe.

Finally, I make them understand that if they use the gifts they were given, work hard, and follow their hearts, they can succeed in life. (Bonnie paused one last time and then continued.)

Then, when people try to judge me by what I make, with me knowing money isn't everything, I can hold my head up high and pay no attention because they are ignorant. You want to know what I make? I MAKE A DIFFERENCE. What do you make Mr. CEO?

His jaw dropped, he went silent.

A truly profound answer!!!
Teaching is...the profession that makes all other professions possible!

Why should I listen to my heart?

It's only Tuesday and by far the worst beginning to a week I've ever experience. I can't even comprehend it, maybe I'm over-reacting, maybe I'm not. Can't believe that last week was excellent and now...sigh!!

Whenever I'm depressed I always read to calm down...

A beautiful short story...taken from the Alchemist...............................................................

“Why do we have to listen to our hearts?” the boy asked, when they had made camp that day.

“Because, wherever your heart is, that is where you’ll find your treasure.”

“But my heart is agitated,” the boy said. “It has its dreams, it gets emotional, and it’s become passionate over a woman of the desert. It asks things of me, and it keeps me from sleeping many nights, when I’m thinking about her.”

“Well, that’s good. Your heart is alive. Keep listening to what it has to say.”

“My heart is a traitor,” the boy said to the alchemist, when they had paused to rest the horses. “It doesn’t want me to go on.”

“That makes sense. Naturally it’s afraid that, in pursuing your dream, you might lose everything you’ve won.”

“Well, then, why should I listen to my heart?”

“Because you will never again be able to keep it quiet. Even if you pretend not to have heard what it tells you, it will always be there inside you, repeating to you what you’re thinking about life and about the world.”

“You mean I should listen, even if it’s treasonous?”

“Treason is a blow that comes unexpectedly. If you know your heart well, it will never be able to do that to you. Because you’ll know its dreams and wishes, and will know how to deal with them.

“My heart is afraid that it will have to suffer,” the boy told the alchemist one night as they looked up at the moonless sky.

“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity.”

“Every second of the search is an encounter with God,” the boy told his heart.

“Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him,” his heart said. “We, people’s hearts, seldom say much about those treasures, because people no longer want to go in search of them. We speak of them only to children. Later, we simply let life proceed, in its own direction, toward its own fate. But, unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them—the path to their destinies, and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and, because they do, the world turns out indeed, to be threatening place.

“So, we, their hearts, speak more and more softly. We never stop speaking out, but we begin to hope that our words won’t be heard: we don’t want people to suffer because they don’t follow their hearts.”

Questions & Answers

I had trouble sleeping last night as I was upset with something someone said. It lead to a rather unpleasant morning. I felt a tightness in my chest. I just need to leave this place.

It's funny that I found abit of comfort in a question and answer interview which was carried out for Coelho.

These are some important questions we often ask ourselves but we simply fail to get answers that really change our lives. Hopefully I would be able to learn from the simple answers and change the way I think and in the long run make a beautiful change in my life.

How do you make peace with a negative past and with those who have wronged you?

In order to move from the past to the present you need to accept your scars. But you need to do everything in your power in order to heal them so that the ghosts of your past will no longer barge in your present life.

It is a long and difficult process I grant you – but it’s a way out of guilt and hatred in my eyes.

How does one keep enthusiasm, especially when you meet people who are well.. scary and mean?

It’s normal that we don’t always keep our enthusiasm in front of obstacles. Indeed some people truly make an effort in destroying our plans and hopes and so they appear as evil.

But in these moments, if you are able to remind yourself of the reason of your actions and also see that those that are committed in creating pain around them are actually their first victims – then you may at least find an extra dose of consolation in your path. Ally yourself with those that wish you the best and don’t give strength to those that want to see you down. Don’t even grant them the right to be called your “enemies”.

How do you stop sadness?

By welcoming it and living it intensively for a determined amount of period. In my case I give myself three days to be completely submersed in this feeling.

Once I’ve let sadness pay me a visit, then I kindly ask it to leave. Sadness is then satisfied and leaves.

My birthday

It was indeed a wonderful birthday this year. In fact the past few days, having pre-birthday celebrations with different friends has been nothing but wonderful. And today with a surprise birthday party at work organised by my closest friends & colleagues, I'm blessed to be loved by many.
And to cap the end of my birthday week; a weekend road trip with my lovely girlfriends. What else could I ask for - a ever-loving and supporting parents, family and friends. God has truly blessed me. And in a little more than in a week's time - A new adventure of my own at a new place with new work colleagues, students and new opportunities to grow and progress further in life.

Thoughts In Solitude

Today I was extremely productive at work. After completing my work, I thought some poetry would just do the trick before I leave for the day.

A beautiful poetry by Thomas Merton on "I have no idea where I am going". Thinking of what would be in the next year or so.

My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going,
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.

Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.

But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.

I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.

I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.

Sara Bareilles - King Of Anything

My theme song; a thought to hold on as I go through a tough couple of weeks. A catchy tune with an even more awesome lyrics.

Who cares if you disagree? You are not me.
Who made you king of anything.
So, you dare tell me who to be
Who died and made you king of anything?

The One Hundred

So it's my 100-post today...what do you say for the 100 that hasn't already been said.

The book The Road Less Travelled began with this line 'Life is difficult'. I was immediately taken with this book cos it spoke of the truth. It said things that should be said. It's my kind of book.

I read an article recently that began with 'Life is difficult and setbacks are common in the great game of life. It was an enlightening read. It focus on the need to continuously strive to be positive in the wake of challenges you face.

Every person has a choice about the attitude he/she brings to his/her day and the action he/she takes.

The article mentions tips that can help you claim your optimism back from any setbacks.

1) Appreciate the healing power of time
One of my favourite quotes is: "This too shall pass". Don't underestimate our power of recuperation from emotional trauma. We might not be able to forget a bad experience but we can always look back with a calmer perspective which only time can provide.

2) Check fears against the facts
It's interesting to note that optimism can be learned. And it's something that everyone should be taught. Try using impersonal facts to maintain a reality-based perspective.

3) Seize the day as a survivor
I learned that as long as I was alive, I always had options. Survivors make the best of the options they have while victims whine about how few they have. There is never nothing you can do; the only question is whether a given action will work and if committed action is worth the investment of the time required to achieve the desired results.

4) Control what you can
You can't control all events that happen, but you can learn how to control your responses to events. You don't control the cards you are dealt in life, but you can learn how to play even a poor hand well. Appreciate the words: "God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference".
Get busy changing what you can - starting with your own attitude.

5) Move from analysis paralysis into action
Learn to cultivate sense of adventure that searches for and takes advantage of every opportunity. Failure to act doesn't prevent failure, it just turns life into slow death.

6) Master strategic skills you need to prepare for the future
The age of lifelong employment is over. You become an old dog when you stop doing new and improved tricks.

7) Be effective
We are tougher on ourselves than on any other person. Instead of taking yourself for granted, love yourself the way you care about others. Don't forget your little success, write down one success every day.

8) See mistakes as valued lessons
Learn to use self-criticism as a course correction feedback on the road to success. Identify what was done wrong, but put your focus on the future.

Final thought for my 100th post: Optimists hope for more but are not deterred by less.

The Island of Gods

I thought I should start this month's posting with some beautiful photos taken in Bali. As I reminisce on the fun I had some two years ago in this Island of Gods. Bali has some of the most spectacular scenes for everyone to enjoy thoroughly. Bali is truly the Island of Gods.