Keeping Busy

Today was the first day I uploaded music activities to my Microsoft Teams. I have "office hours" every weekday. THIS IS CRAZY!!!! I just want to teach. I'm not cut out to do it this way. I miss my students and I'm worried for a lot of them.
How am I dealing with this?
 A list
A list of school things to do everyday such as preparing new activities, creating and re-creating new lesson plans for when we go back, and trying to reach out to students.

I also am doing a list of home things like: cleaning one room a day (dusting, vacuuming and mopping, etc.), de-cluttering, and making a list of projects to do once this is over!

I am also working on a proposal for the Middle School National Conference so my summer school colleagues and I can hopefully go present there in the Fall. I'm also working in conjunction with Roberts Wesleyan's education department and present our summer school instruction ideas to the current students. We were suppose to present at the Bowman Educational Symposium at the college in May but it was canceled.
My mom actually said to me the other day "Don't you wish you were still working on your dissertation right now? Think of the time you'd have!"  Yes and No! I'm glad that's over and I have my degree but the time would have been nice.
Anyway, I hope you are keeping busy with productive things to make yours and others lives better.


#Findyourjoy

Breathe in.... Breathe out

Somedays, that's all we can do and that's ok. This morning, I woke to a beautiful breeze coming through my window, and the birds singing me a song. So I laid in bed and just listened. I took deep breaths and I listened.
and....

It was wonderful!

Keeping positive

I am fully admitting that it is getting increasingly hard to stay positive, but here is what I am doing:

1. I am NOT watching the news. If I want information, I get it from reliable sources. I know what I need to be doing. I need to be STAYING HOME. I even told Mark not to talk to me about the news. When I want to know, I'll go to my reliable sources myself.

2. I am going to be blocking a few people on my social media temporarily. There are people  out there who never think positively, and only post negative things or post things from unreliable sources. I see those and panic, so I'm shutting them off temporarily.

3. I am keeping the things I can control in my control. I can go outside and breathe fresh air, I can control what to watch on TV, I can control cleaning my house, I can control where I go to get groceries or I can have them delivered.


Keep at the positive Joy announcements. Keep writing them down!

#Findyourjoy

Step #7- Write Your Joys Down

Have you seen the posts where people are putting positive messages in their windows and chalk messages on their driveways and sidewalks?

That is exactly what we need to be doing. When you write something down, you see it, and others see it too.

That is your homework today.

Write at least 1 joy down for today. Then do it tomorrow and the next day too. and the following day as well. keep finding one joy every day.... BUT WRITE THEM DOWN. And if you put them on social media, use this hashtag  #Findyourjoy

Here is mine for the day

I am sitting at my computer, talking to Paige(who is working) while I'm working. It's great that I can see her face!

Step #6- Extend Grace to Yourself and Others

This is so important right now.
Like I've said in other posts, it's ok to not be feeling ok. You need to extend Grace to yourself.
I have a hard time with this one.
I'm a self proclaimed control freak. I like order, I like to know what's going to happen, I like a plan.
The circumstances we are all under right now does not allow me to do this with much ease. I need to remember there are only so many things within my control right now and always. I need to look for things I can control and give myself some grace.
Here is what I CAN control:
1. My daily schedule
2. getting showered and dressed for the day
3. What I am eating
4. Moving my body
5. Doing work for school
6. Doing work for my Posh business
7. Doing other things that keep my mind sharp
8. reading books I haven't had time to read
9. Controlling how and when I get my information on current events
10. Writing this blog

I most importantly can PRAY!

As I look at this list, I already feel more in control.  If you are feeling out of control, then make a list. Post it where you can see it and refer to it.

If we are able to extend ourselves grace, then it's easier to extend it to others.
Many of us are feeling the same way right now.
Here are some ways I know to extend grace, and a few I saw from friends of mine:
1. send a cute emoji to a friend
2. Create a sign and hang it in your window. (Make it BIG so people can see it!)
3. Go through your FB friends list and pray for each one by name(Thanks Charity)
4. Make a huge pot of soup or goulash etc. and leave some on your neighbor's porch.
5. Play an online game with someone.
6. Have a "virtual" dinner. Call a friend, make dinner, set the table, dress up, and FaceTime or Skype.
7. Have a book club over the phone or virtually
8. Have a virtual Dance party
9. Say "Good Morning" to the people you normally would say that too EVRY MORNING!(Thanks Lisa!)
10. Start a project to help those on the front lines.

There are many ideas to help others during this time. It extends grace to them and makes you feel good in the process

Win Win

#Findyourjoy

Step#5 Speak in Love when others need Encouragement

These are trying times. When things like that happen, people tend to get really short with their responses and words. It's because we are tired, we are scared, and we are fearful. It's ok to feel all of those feelings. But...... we also need to be mindful that this is a time too slow down, and be mindful of our words. There are a lot of people out there needing encouragement right now. So I beg of you, slow down and speak with loving words. I can't tell people when this will end, I can only tell them it will. 
Need some help with finding words of encouragement?

Try these:
“What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us.”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
– Robert H. Schuller

“Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must have perseverance and, above all, confidence in ourselves. We must believe that we are gifted for something, and that this thing, at whatever cost, must be attained.”
– Marie Curie

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.”
— Albert Einstein

Above all, reach out to people in this time. A simple "Hi, I was thinking about you"goes a long way for them and you.

As always.... Take care and #Findyourjoy

Step #4- Be an Encourager to Others

Many of us have nothing else to do but sit and think and think and think. It drives me crazy to do that. What's the better option?
Be an Encourager
You know people who need it right now. those friends that are scared. Reach out to them. encourage them, just listen if you can.
Also, Please encourage those that are still out there working:
our medical personnel
our first responders
our restaurant workers
our grocery workers
our trucking industry
our package and mail carriers

Thank them and encourage them
How?

• Make a sign that says Thank You and post it on your mailbox
• If you do have to go to the store, practice social distancing and be kind. Say Thank You
• Support your local restaurants if you are able . Medical personnel have said to move the take out from the container, place it on a plate, throw the container out, microwave  the meal for 30 seconds, and make sure you  wash your hands
• Check in on people through the phone, FaceTime or other social media
• Pray for them

Now more than ever we need to encourage one another, and we can do this and keep our physical distance at the same time.

We've got this
Love to you and #Findyourjoy