Fear

This week with my students we talked about fear a lot, what with Halloween coming up and all. We had an interesting discussion about whether fear was in our imagination or whether it was real, and how we could differentiate the two. Fear is totally healthy when it warns us of imminent danger, but when it eats at us and it is all in our heads, how do we control it? My tricks for my five-year-old students were to:
1. imagine you're in a nice place
2. sing really loudly

3. laugh at your fear (this trick is the one used in Harry Potter to scare away Boggarts)
4. turn on the lights
5. look away (if it's a scary movie)

As adults though, we are faced with different kinds of imaginary fears. I often worry about horrible things happening to people if they don't show up on time (maybe they got caught in a car accident, maybe they got kidnapped, etc.). I also sometimes worry about my own inadequacy. These imaginary fears we have as adults are more difficult to control it seems. Staying positive and keeping in touch with reality definitely help, as well as having good people around to reassure you (my husband telling me I'm the best really helps).

What are you afraid of?

You are beautiful

Dear everyone,

This week during my daily train commute to and from work, I had an odd kind of realization. I noticed how beautiful people are. I was sitting across from a woman one day and was thinking, wow, she is really pretty. Next I saw a young girl walk on the train who was absolutely stunning. I was thinking how nice it would be to be able to tell them without sounding like a creepy weirdo. Does this happen to anyone else? Do you ever notice that the people around you are beautiful and may not know it? do you know of any appropriate way to let them know?

From your creepy weirdo friend who thinks you are beautiful.

It's already October! Time sure does fly! I'm still happy and busy at school, though a few students have started acting up, though that's pretty normal for this time of year. They've gotten to know me and each other and are now testing the boundaries. I have to work on not taking their mishaps personally. Usually things run smoothly in my classroom, but then at recess or lunch or other classes, my students will hit others and do 'bad' things. Any experienced teachers out there have a magical trick to stop this behaviour? Or to help me not to take it personally when it's reported back to me? That is something I am working on as a teacher right now.

Thanksgiving is here in Canada and I wanted to do a cheesy 'what I am thankful for' post today. In no particular order, I am thankful for:

1. God, goodness, the 'thing' that interconnects us all and makes us feel one.
2. Nature: the trees, air, oceans, animals, etc.
3. Family. I am even luckier to have more and more people to call family now that I'm married.
4. Friends, the real kind and the we're just getting to know each other kind.
5. My health. I went to the doctor, the dentist and the optometrist yesterday and all around, I'm in very good health. The dental hygienist was amazed that I drink coffee! And I'm getting new cool glasses.
6. OK I'm stopping this now because it's boring and way too cheesy... but I did it anyway. I have my list of things I love and am thankful for and I won't forget. Gratitude is important. I find that people like to complain a lot and tend to forget how blessed they are. If you are reading this and you have a computer, you are already better off than a lot of others.