How we think of ourselves is a funny thing. Things such as life experience and gender can make quite a difference in our perspective.
Women can often be very hard on themselves. The images shown in media certainly can contribute to the average female feeling inadequate. It's been my experience that far too many women struggle with self esteem, and unfortunately sell themselves short.
Kids, with their wonderful honesty, often struggle with who they are in the world. At the younger ages they can be like sponges ... soaking up all the bad things that might be said about them.
As I get older, I am more at peace with myself than I was long ago. I remember parts of the journey that brought me to where I am today, and am grateful for for the people I have been lucky enough to know. I remember feeling lost ... wondering who I was, and what was my place in the universe.
I've heard it said that there are three realities: How we see ourselves, how other people see us, and how we really are.
I don't have all the answers these days, but I do feel like I at least belong.
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
living wisely and well
When I left my job in Winnipeg a year ago, I knew I was taking a chance.
I had secure job at a nice school, with great staff and benefits. It was comfortable ... predictable and I was grateful to have the position. Yet, I left that behind and took a chance on essentially starting at the bottom rung of the ladder here in Ottawa.
Here I am today, working as a substitute Educational Assistant ... hoping at some point to get hired full time at a nice school.
Working as a substitute E A has it's good points - there is variety: going from school to school, I get to meet a lot of people and find out what many of the schools are like. I don't mind have days that I don't work: we don't really need the money, and on those days there are other things I can do around the house to stay productive. One of the things I love about visiting new schools is discovering other educators who are passionate about doing good things.
Recently in a staff room, I came across a poster
that I though was worth sharing -
I love seeing good people do good things. The world is full of them,
and thank goodness ... People who care, who are nurturing, intelligent and positive. I am drawn to them, and look for opportunities to learn from them. I strive to be one of them wherever possible, and know that character and attitude are far more important than homework and assignments.
I really enjoy some of the people I have been working with lately ...
wonderful staff and great children. I sometime feel like I might have the best job in the world.
There are usually hidden opportunities in change. Leaving comfort and predictability might be difficult, but the rewards are often wonderful ...
I had secure job at a nice school, with great staff and benefits. It was comfortable ... predictable and I was grateful to have the position. Yet, I left that behind and took a chance on essentially starting at the bottom rung of the ladder here in Ottawa.
Here I am today, working as a substitute Educational Assistant ... hoping at some point to get hired full time at a nice school.
Working as a substitute E A has it's good points - there is variety: going from school to school, I get to meet a lot of people and find out what many of the schools are like. I don't mind have days that I don't work: we don't really need the money, and on those days there are other things I can do around the house to stay productive. One of the things I love about visiting new schools is discovering other educators who are passionate about doing good things.
Recently in a staff room, I came across a poster
that I though was worth sharing -
21 Suggestions for Living Wisely and Well
- Teach by example.
- Bless every day with a generous act.
- Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
- Do something every day that maintains good health.
- Take family vacations whether you can afford them or not.
- Stand up for your principles even if you stand alone.
- Judge your success by the degree that you’re enjoying peace, health and love.
- Be there when people need you.
- Be devoted to your spouse and dedicated to your children.
- Be of service to your community and your country.
- Have courage when things go wrong.
- Tell the truth.
- Maintain your resources wisely.
- Be satisfied, don’t grumble.
- Don’t overlook life’s small joys while searching for big ones.
- Discover the power of prayer.
- Discover the power of forgiveness.
- Love people more than things.
- Look for the good.
- Search for the truth.
- Hope for the best.
I love seeing good people do good things. The world is full of them,
and thank goodness ... People who care, who are nurturing, intelligent and positive. I am drawn to them, and look for opportunities to learn from them. I strive to be one of them wherever possible, and know that character and attitude are far more important than homework and assignments.
I really enjoy some of the people I have been working with lately ...
wonderful staff and great children. I sometime feel like I might have the best job in the world.
There are usually hidden opportunities in change. Leaving comfort and predictability might be difficult, but the rewards are often wonderful ...
Saturday, November 14, 2009
dealing with stress
Here are some top tips on how to effectively combat stress-
Stay Organized
Find ways to keep things where you can find them.
Scrambling to find things creates unnecessary, avoidable stress.
Investigate solutions to organizational challenges.
Seek Balance in Your Life
If you are overworked and run down, you can become sick.
If you are sick, you will be unable to rise the challenges in your life.
Do what you need to do to take time to rest and play along with all the work you do. How you manage your downtime will help you be at your best during up time. Take the time to recharge and rejuvenate.
Don't Focus on Negative Things
Life may present us with problems, but obsessing on them only makes them more of a burden.
Recognize them, acknowledge them and move on.
Look for positive things in your life that bring you happiness.
Be grateful for supportive friends and the wonderful things around you that bring you joy.
Contemplate sources of happiness in your world.
Surround Yourself With Support
Seek out people who are healthy for you.
Friends and loved ones who care for you want to help, enjoy the opportunity to help. Often talking with someone can go a long way in sharing the burden.
Avoid people who are negative and destructive or minimize contact with them if possible.
Take Good Care of Yourself
Eat properly ... nutritious, healthy foods are the fuel that will help keep you functioning at your best. look at the things you are putting in your body ... they affect your body chemistry and make a big difference in how you cope with stress and rise to the challenges of your world.
Exercise ... find activities you enjoy to help you stay active and perform at your best. Exercise helps us feel alive and rise to the expectations life will present us. Take the stairs instead of the elevator ... go for walks, or find some other outlet to increase your physical activity.
Invest in yourself ... make the time to do the things that you need to do for you, so you can be at your best ... healthy and strong.
Be your biggest supporter ... use positive affirmations to reinforce the good things in your life.
Stress is inevitable. Life presents us challenges daily ... some small, and some huge. How well we cope with stress depends on how well we’ve prepared ourselves for life’s bumps and bruises.
Investing in yourself empowers you to conquer the challenges and be at your best. Believe in yourself … you have what it takes to minimize and overcome stress.
Stay healthy and arm yourself with the necessary tools to thrive.
Stay Organized
Find ways to keep things where you can find them.
Scrambling to find things creates unnecessary, avoidable stress.
Investigate solutions to organizational challenges.
Seek Balance in Your Life
If you are overworked and run down, you can become sick.
If you are sick, you will be unable to rise the challenges in your life.
Do what you need to do to take time to rest and play along with all the work you do. How you manage your downtime will help you be at your best during up time. Take the time to recharge and rejuvenate.
Don't Focus on Negative Things
Life may present us with problems, but obsessing on them only makes them more of a burden.
Recognize them, acknowledge them and move on.
Look for positive things in your life that bring you happiness.
Be grateful for supportive friends and the wonderful things around you that bring you joy.
Contemplate sources of happiness in your world.
Surround Yourself With Support
Seek out people who are healthy for you.
Friends and loved ones who care for you want to help, enjoy the opportunity to help. Often talking with someone can go a long way in sharing the burden.
Avoid people who are negative and destructive or minimize contact with them if possible.
Take Good Care of Yourself
Eat properly ... nutritious, healthy foods are the fuel that will help keep you functioning at your best. look at the things you are putting in your body ... they affect your body chemistry and make a big difference in how you cope with stress and rise to the challenges of your world.
Exercise ... find activities you enjoy to help you stay active and perform at your best. Exercise helps us feel alive and rise to the expectations life will present us. Take the stairs instead of the elevator ... go for walks, or find some other outlet to increase your physical activity.
Invest in yourself ... make the time to do the things that you need to do for you, so you can be at your best ... healthy and strong.
Be your biggest supporter ... use positive affirmations to reinforce the good things in your life.
Stress is inevitable. Life presents us challenges daily ... some small, and some huge. How well we cope with stress depends on how well we’ve prepared ourselves for life’s bumps and bruises.
Investing in yourself empowers you to conquer the challenges and be at your best. Believe in yourself … you have what it takes to minimize and overcome stress.
Stay healthy and arm yourself with the necessary tools to thrive.
Friday, November 6, 2009
focus
Every day we are given several choices. Our lives are cluttered and busy, and we are constantly presented with challenges and opportunities.
We experience happiness, disappointments, frustrations, joy ... we discover, perceiver, observe and wind through the responsibilities of our day.
From the moment we get up to start our day until the moment we fall back asleep 17 or 18 hours later, we set the tone within us. Our attitude colours our reactions, and our intentions reverberate to those around us. Everywhere we go there is an opportunity to make the world a better place.
As we encounter our challenges throughout the day we can focus on the frustrations involved, or we can focus on the opportunity to improve some small aspect of the world. We have the choice to focus on the energy of a task, or the repercussions of our accomplishments.
What we focus on throughout our day makes things easier or harder for us, and those near us. If we carry with us intentions of caring, warmth and patience, those around us sense that, and are more receptive. When we focus on happiness and friendliness, all who we come in contact with see that within us.
Our realities are ultimately shaped by ourselves. If we live in a world of conflict and confrontation, the stress becomes a burden and life miserable. If we carry with us an air of smiles and joy, our world becomes a happy warm, place.
What we focus on throughout the day can make all the difference.
We experience happiness, disappointments, frustrations, joy ... we discover, perceiver, observe and wind through the responsibilities of our day.
From the moment we get up to start our day until the moment we fall back asleep 17 or 18 hours later, we set the tone within us. Our attitude colours our reactions, and our intentions reverberate to those around us. Everywhere we go there is an opportunity to make the world a better place.
As we encounter our challenges throughout the day we can focus on the frustrations involved, or we can focus on the opportunity to improve some small aspect of the world. We have the choice to focus on the energy of a task, or the repercussions of our accomplishments.
What we focus on throughout our day makes things easier or harder for us, and those near us. If we carry with us intentions of caring, warmth and patience, those around us sense that, and are more receptive. When we focus on happiness and friendliness, all who we come in contact with see that within us.
Our realities are ultimately shaped by ourselves. If we live in a world of conflict and confrontation, the stress becomes a burden and life miserable. If we carry with us an air of smiles and joy, our world becomes a happy warm, place.
What we focus on throughout the day can make all the difference.
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