rules to be happy

A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.

His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.

As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window.

I love it,' he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.

Mr. Jones, you haven't seen the room; just wait.'

'That doesn't have anything to do with it,' he replied.

Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.

Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is
arranged ... it's how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it.

'It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.

Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away.. Just for this time in my life.

Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you've put in.

So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!

Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank.
I am still depositing.

'Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.

it's been a good week for me

As a substitute Educational Assistant, work can be hit and miss ... but this last week not only have I been lucky enough to work every day, but I have been working at a couple of my favorite schools. These schools have caring, talented staff, and wonderful children.

I saw a poster in one of the staff rooms with the following:

Guidance

For our children,
the road to happiness and success
is usually paved by
our example

It would be wonderful to land a good job at one of these schools, but for now I am enjoying the variety and the experience.

I am open to opportunities and will rise to the challenges presented to me. I will surpass expectations and strive to be an asset to anyone who calls upon me.

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 -

21 Suggestions for Living Wisely and Well

1. Teach by example.
2. Bless every day with a generous act.
3. Never waste an opportunity to tell someone you love them.
4. Do something every day that maintains good health.
5. Take family vacations whether you can afford them or not.
6. Stand up for your principles even if you stand alone.
7. Judge your success by the degree that you’re enjoying peace, health and love.
8. Be there when people need you.
9. Be devoted to your spouse and dedicated to your children.
10. Be of service to your community and your country.
11. Have courage when things go wrong.
12. Tell the truth.
13. Maintain your resources wisely.
14. Be satisfied, don’t grumble.
15. Don’t overlook life’s small joys while searching for big ones.
16. Discover the power of prayer.
17. Discover the power of forgiveness.
18. Love people more than things.
19. Look for the good.
20. Search for the truth.
21. Hope for the best.

By: H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

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 ...