A small collage of my day. (Emphasis on food...the relaxing in the living room was too boring to take a picture if)
So Chrismas is over......No more snacks at work (they will be there I'm sure but I will not be indulging). No more continual desserts being made in my kitchen (cookies, cobbler, fried bananas, ice cream, etc etc etc). I'm not waiting for the new year....it's happening NOW.
I recently read the book I'd like to apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had by Tony Danza. I have to admit, I was somewhat skeptical when I picked up the book. I had actually looked at the book for ages before anteing up the money to buy it. (and only did so when I received a gift certificate...I'm such a cheapskate!) I'm glad that I finally did pick up the book. It was an emotional read for me. The circumstances were a bit different (he was teaching high school and only one class where as I was teaching elementary school and was inundated with children all day long) but his stories and his experience resonated within me. I was nodding my head along with his memories and experiences. But even more importantly, for the first time in a long long time I felt the excitement of education and the feelings that had initially drawn me to that profession. Was it enough to draw me back to teaching? No....can't say it is at this time...but I will admit that the thought crossed my mind for a fleeting moment. But as soon as that did, sanity was reclaimed....memories of teaching and knowledge of how schools are run now were enough to return myself to a state of sanity!!
But reading this book made me look deeply at myself. It made me look deeply at where I stand (ha....as if I don't do that enough in December with the new year upon me and with my birthday year ending) in life. The teaching thing has stood in my life as a huge failure for 13 long years. My ultimate dream growing up was to have a child......I got married and thought that my husband was on board with the same goal and desire...but after marriage his behavior and tone changed and now at forty-one I have to realize that I failed with that dream. Fail! My career (if you can even call it that...I have a job...it's not a career) is a big fat FAIL. (yeah, if you knew how much I got paid you'd agree!) FAIL!!!! My marriage......it's been a lot of fails. I've lost the weight once and regained....fail. I was losing this year..but stopped and actually started regaining....Fail. Fail...fail...fail...fail. It has seemed to be a common occurrence in my life. FAIL!
However, this book by Tony Danza made me realize that picking myself up out of the ashes is where success is. No, that was not the premise of the book. But while I was being awed by the return of those idealistic feelings that I thought were gone....I was seeing the common theme that he was trying to push upon the kids in the book. What was that common thought? In my words.....basically that life is crappy sometimes. Face it...it is....heartbreaking sometimes. But success is overcoming the adversarial stuff and succeeding in life. It's continuing in school even when you are raised in an environment where education is not respected and encouraged. Success is rising form the ashes of my failures and living a happy well adjusted life. Success is pushing through the bad and coming out on top..successful and happy. Winning is taking ourselves and using opportunities, experiences and just life and using it to push us to a better future. If we sit back and allow life.....we will fail.
As if the book wasn't enough to open my eyes.....I stumbled upon a blog. It was cowritten by a couple in their mid thirties. They moved cross country....they bought their first house.....they remodeled that dream house...and literally as they moved into their house the husband was diagnosed with cancer. The blog continued to chronicle their lives...but it also chornicled the two year fight and eventual death (as in he died within the last two days). It was a heart wrenching read through this blog (and yes, very voyeuristic) but through it all, even as this gal watched her husband die....even while she's crying out her frustrations, she is holding her head up and carrying on...accepting life and being as upbeat as possible. Makes my problems look minor...and makes me say "if she can go through that with grace and an upbeat attitude.......I can face my life the same way."
I don't know how to not dwell on these things that I deem failure. It's incredibly difficult to not be saddened when I see my friends having children. It's incredibly difficult to hold my head up and smile when my husband and I are going through one of our recurring rough spots. It's HARD. But in the words of Westley (the Man in Black) in the Movie Princess Bride said. 'Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is trying to sell you something.' And I just have to TRY.
I need to CHOOSE to be happy! I need to CHOSE to live my life to the fullest within the confines that has brought me to this exact place. I'm here for a reason. I may not like the results of being overweight (ok, i'm still actually obese) but I'm here for a reason. I may not like being childless...but for whatever reason....that is how I find myself. I need to find joy in that state (and my niece and nephews certainly help that cause..they are awesome!). Accept life for what it is!
And as if those previous eye openers weren't enough....(yeah seriously). Today I was out running. (Yeah, I went running on Christmas morning) I heard the song Try from Pink......tell me these lyrics are not perfect for me!
When I accept life and stop wallowing in the negative....I have a feeling that the weight will be much easier to lose....simple because I will feel like I DESERVE to be thin!
Although, in my mind I DO know that I deserve to be thin not matter what! So right now.....In the words of Red...played by Morgan Freeman in the movie Shawshenk Redemption.....IIt's time for me to "gett busy living or get busy dying.' First thing up....the weight will come off and while I'm doing it....I'm choosing to be HAPPY!
Soooo...I actually made a committment to run a trilogy of 5k's...virtually...it's hosted by DVFfitness.com. The first was on Thanksgiving....I did the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day. One down...two to do. Today is Christmas and that meant number two was upon me. I got out early. I was the only person out on the battlefield this morning at 9AM. It was cold. I was TEMPTED to cheat and do just two miles. But I knew that I would only be cheating myself. I did the WHOLE thing...and then some! Second 5k of the trilogy done! One more to go!!!!!
I recently read the book I'd like to apologize to Every Teacher I Ever Had by Tony Danza. I have to admit, I was somewhat skeptical when I picked up the book. I had actually looked at the book for ages before anteing up the money to buy it. (and only did so when I received a gift certificate...I'm such a cheapskate!) I'm glad that I finally did pick up the book. It was an emotional read for me. The circumstances were a bit different (he was teaching high school and only one class where as I was teaching elementary school and was inundated with children all day long) but his stories and his experience resonated within me. I was nodding my head along with his memories and experiences. But even more importantly, for the first time in a long long time I felt the excitement of education and the feelings that had initially drawn me to that profession. Was it enough to draw me back to teaching? No....can't say it is at this time...but I will admit that the thought crossed my mind for a fleeting moment. But as soon as that did, sanity was reclaimed....memories of teaching and knowledge of how schools are run now were enough to return myself to a state of sanity!!
But reading this book made me look deeply at myself. It made me look deeply at where I stand (ha....as if I don't do that enough in December with the new year upon me and with my birthday year ending) in life. The teaching thing has stood in my life as a huge failure for 13 long years. My ultimate dream growing up was to have a child......I got married and thought that my husband was on board with the same goal and desire...but after marriage his behavior and tone changed and now at forty-one I have to realize that I failed with that dream. Fail! My career (if you can even call it that...I have a job...it's not a career) is a big fat FAIL. (yeah, if you knew how much I got paid you'd agree!) FAIL!!!! My marriage......it's been a lot of fails. I've lost the weight once and regained....fail. I was losing this year..but stopped and actually started regaining....Fail. Fail...fail...fail...fail. It has seemed to be a common occurrence in my life. FAIL!
However, this book by Tony Danza made me realize that picking myself up out of the ashes is where success is. No, that was not the premise of the book. But while I was being awed by the return of those idealistic feelings that I thought were gone....I was seeing the common theme that he was trying to push upon the kids in the book. What was that common thought? In my words.....basically that life is crappy sometimes. Face it...it is....heartbreaking sometimes. But success is overcoming the adversarial stuff and succeeding in life. It's continuing in school even when you are raised in an environment where education is not respected and encouraged. Success is rising form the ashes of my failures and living a happy well adjusted life. Success is pushing through the bad and coming out on top..successful and happy. Winning is taking ourselves and using opportunities, experiences and just life and using it to push us to a better future. If we sit back and allow life.....we will fail.
As if the book wasn't enough to open my eyes.....I stumbled upon a blog. It was cowritten by a couple in their mid thirties. They moved cross country....they bought their first house.....they remodeled that dream house...and literally as they moved into their house the husband was diagnosed with cancer. The blog continued to chronicle their lives...but it also chornicled the two year fight and eventual death (as in he died within the last two days). It was a heart wrenching read through this blog (and yes, very voyeuristic) but through it all, even as this gal watched her husband die....even while she's crying out her frustrations, she is holding her head up and carrying on...accepting life and being as upbeat as possible. Makes my problems look minor...and makes me say "if she can go through that with grace and an upbeat attitude.......I can face my life the same way."
I don't know how to not dwell on these things that I deem failure. It's incredibly difficult to not be saddened when I see my friends having children. It's incredibly difficult to hold my head up and smile when my husband and I are going through one of our recurring rough spots. It's HARD. But in the words of Westley (the Man in Black) in the Movie Princess Bride said. 'Life is pain, highness. Anyone who says differently is trying to sell you something.' And I just have to TRY.
I need to CHOOSE to be happy! I need to CHOSE to live my life to the fullest within the confines that has brought me to this exact place. I'm here for a reason. I may not like the results of being overweight (ok, i'm still actually obese) but I'm here for a reason. I may not like being childless...but for whatever reason....that is how I find myself. I need to find joy in that state (and my niece and nephews certainly help that cause..they are awesome!). Accept life for what it is!
And as if those previous eye openers weren't enough....(yeah seriously). Today I was out running. (Yeah, I went running on Christmas morning) I heard the song Try from Pink......tell me these lyrics are not perfect for me!
Where there is desire
There is gonna be a flame
Where there is a flame
Someone's bound to get burned
But just because it burns
Doesn't mean you're gonna die
You've gotta get up and try try try
Gotta get up and try try try
You gotta get up and try try try
When I accept life and stop wallowing in the negative....I have a feeling that the weight will be much easier to lose....simple because I will feel like I DESERVE to be thin!
Although, in my mind I DO know that I deserve to be thin not matter what! So right now.....In the words of Red...played by Morgan Freeman in the movie Shawshenk Redemption.....IIt's time for me to "gett busy living or get busy dying.' First thing up....the weight will come off and while I'm doing it....I'm choosing to be HAPPY!
Soooo...I actually made a committment to run a trilogy of 5k's...virtually...it's hosted by DVFfitness.com. The first was on Thanksgiving....I did the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving day. One down...two to do. Today is Christmas and that meant number two was upon me. I got out early. I was the only person out on the battlefield this morning at 9AM. It was cold. I was TEMPTED to cheat and do just two miles. But I knew that I would only be cheating myself. I did the WHOLE thing...and then some! Second 5k of the trilogy done! One more to go!!!!!
Ooo I would have joined you in the 5K trilogy! :)
ReplyDeleteI have a hard time with failure too, and I dwell on it. Endlessly. But for the most part I look at failure as a problem I haven't solved yet. Sometimes it is about looking at it a different way.
You mentioned not having kids being something that bothers you. What if you look at things in a different way - what was it about having kids that so appealed to you? No, really, what were the benefits, the things you were looking forward to? Is that really the only way to have them, or is there another path? (i.e. being a foster home or adopting? Or maybe a Big Sister in a program? No idea what appeals specifically because only you can answer that, but maybe there is a way to meet that need without going the traditional route?)
Failure is only not trying again, or not learning what you were supposed to learn. I truly believe that. And if you're simply not meant for a certain path, that isn't a failure, it's just a course correction. You're meant for something else, something meaningful. The trick is to find it. I'm always on the lookout myself. It doesn't mean the failing part doesn't stink, because it does. But I have to believe there is something more that I am meant for/to do/a reason for things happening.
Merry Christmas!
Way to push yourself for all three miles! I'll see you back on New Years!! Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteI think Kyra is onto something in regards to kids. There are a lot of children without parents who could definitely use some love in their lives.
ReplyDeleteAnd I also agree with her in terms of failure is only when you give up. As long as you keep going you have NOT failed.
Go MaryFran. Do what you need to give yourself a fulfilling life. Make this next year YOURS!
ReplyDeleteI love that movie, and I love that quote! I haven't had quite the in-depth moment you have had, but I realize I need to make a lot of significant changes in 2014 too, and not just fanciful resolutions I never follow up on.
ReplyDeleteawesome post!
ReplyDeleteinspiring, go Mary Fran. make it happen.
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