HAVE TOO MUCH TIME on my hands . . . 2nd entry of the day!

Just came across this article I saved and felt it was well worth sharing. It's from ASCD Newsletter, Volume 8, Number 1, September  2004.  Somethings remain the SAME.

The Art of Being Happy:

Your Attitude

Today’s increasingly demanding educational environment can chip away at

even the most dedicated professional’s resolve as the singular goal of daily

survival begins to override idealistic goals.

Take a moment to reflect on the reasons you became a teacher.  You invested your heart, effort and time to prepare for and do this work.  You wanted to affect the future.  One often focuses too much on the challenges rather than the joys of teaching.

Recall the 1980’s song that implored us to stop worrying and just be happy.  Let's appreciate the wisdom of this and "be happy".  This once-popular tune is sometimes difficult even though we know that worrying can overtake our thoughts and steal our happiness.  We must try to remember that having a positive attitude truly is a choice we make- we can rearrange our thoughts.

If you have trouble feeling happy consider the following quote by the 18^th century satirist Voltaire: “The most courageous decision one makes each day is the decision to be in a good mood.”  Be courageous – decide now to be happy.  Rearrange your attitude.  Smiling, laughing and using your sense of humor can make you feel better in a number of ways.  As noted in the article, “Humor and Aging Well: A Laughing Matter or a Matter of Laughing”, J. Solomon has found that humor produces a multitude of positive physiological effects.  Laughter increases circulation, exercises the lungs, tones the cardiovascular system, and increases blood oxygen levels.  Once muscles relax after laughing, the body releases endorphins, which block pain.

Students mirror the attitude we convey with our facial expressions.  Students are drawn to teachers who smile notes C.M. Charles in his book The Synergistic Classroom.  Teena Ruark Gorrow, assistant professor of education at Salisbury University writes, “My most respected mentor-teacher is also my mother.  She encouraged me from childhood to smile and light up the room.  I generously pass on her advice to you."  Rearrange your attitude and light up your classroom. . . .and BE HAPPY!