I've Got Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

So, I might be having one of those "what am I doing with my life" days (or few days) where I decided I want to do more in my life but I'm not quite sure what . I can't tell you how much I anticipate having my own classroom and I wonder when that day will come. I picture my ideal classroom the way some girls grow up dreaming of their perfect wedding. I even imagine what my office would look like if I ever had one. Somewhere warm, cozy, and green with a fun tissue box and positive quotes and inspirational pictures framed and hung neatly on the wall or placed perfectly on a shelf. The bookcase that I can envision having in my office would be immaculate. Books would be standing up in height order, organized by category, and the cute, fun, motivational books would be stacked perfectly. In the meantime, I think about what else I can do that involves my passions of writing, working with children, teaching, being creative, finding the positive, motivational quotes, and happi

As I got into my car the other day after work, I noticed a strange sight staring back at me from the hood of my car. I recognized the creature immediately as a praying mantis and felt excitement throughout my body. These insects are so special! They are not only the Connecticut state insect, but they are such a rare sight to see. This one was mostly brown but had a bright green belly. It stood beautiful and still. I got out of my car and walked around to the side where the bug was, and as I did, I noticed something peculiar. It was as if the praying mantis was watching me- his head turned and followed me as I came closer, then he just sat there staring. We were making eye contact- my hazel eyes were locked with his big, green eyes. After a few seconds, he turned his head back and I went to get a stick, with the help of a co-worker, so that I could move the insect to safety and away from the full parking lot. He was very cooperative, and we moved him to the field. As I drove away, I tho

It was a summer Sunday and I was away from my home house sitting for some relatives. I decided to find a church to attend for my weekly mass even though it wasn't my usual comfort zone church. I came across a Catholic church down the road from where I was staying that week and looked up mass times. I arrived early, a little nervous to enter an unfamiliar setting and wanted prime, comfortable seating not too close but not too far away. I found a perfect corner and sat at the end of the pew. Mass went on as planned, and I enjoyed seeing and hearing the new sights and sounds of a different Catholic family than my usual Sunday churchgoers. During the homily I was particularly enlightened as I listened to a wonderful story that I still carry with me. The priest told a story of a man at work. One afternoon this man had a co-worker over for some office related paperwork, and as they walked into the home of the man, the co-worker noticed an odd gesture. "Why did you just touch tha

Do you ever think about making a difference in the life of a child? There are many children and young adults around us that don't have a book to read or a smiling face to play with. Some just need a positive, fun, energetic role model. If you would like to become a mentor, or to learn more about this nationwide program, read the article below, and think about volunteering with Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters . It would make you smile, knowing you are making the life of a child better. Consider making a difference today . Nutmeg Big Brothers Big Sisters Seeks Mentors   "Whether you live in North Canaan, Kent, Naugatuck, Bristol - or any of the towns in between - Nutmeg wants to talk with you about becoming a mentor."  Mentoring isn't only fun, it has the potential of being the adventure of a lifetime. It isn't expensive to do. And you don't need special education or training to be one. "At the Volunteer Recognition Event we held last April

As I sit here on my couch on this absolutely perfect Sunday, I am joined with millions of other people who are tuning in to the opening Sunday of NFL football. The air is lighter outside and there are even a few pumpkin beers chilling in my refrigerator which means fall is just around the corner! This excites me because I love any and all things pumpkin, I love wearing a nice, chunky sweater on a cool evening, and I am obsessed with football. Some people seem to be surprised to find out how much I love baseball and football, among others, however, my entire family is made up of die-hard New York Giants fans, and are split between the Yankees and Red Sox. (I like the Mets, yikes.) Regardless of all that, I have a few favorite athletes that I both love and admire. About a year and a half ago I read Drew Brees' book called Coming Back Stronger , and I instantly had an admiration for him as he has struggled through adversity to get to where he is today. A lot of what Drew shares i

After a lot of careful thought, trial and error, writing, rewriting, and editing, I believe that I have come to the final conclusion of what my own personal ten commandments are. I am going to make a strong commitment to these commandments and try my absolute best to practice them when it becomes intensely necessary, but also when I'm just floating through my every day. As promised a few weeks ago, as part of my own Happiness Project, I present to you...my list. 1. Think before you speak 2. Practice patience 3. Breathe deeply 4. "This too shall pass" 5. Count your blessings 6. The world is not out to get me 7. Learn how to trust and overcome 8. Learn to compromise 9. Find the positive in every situation 10. Be proud to be me. It's a lot to read and understand. For those of you who know me, some of these might seem obvious. Others might surprise you. I have learned a lot about myself this summer, especially in the past three weeks. By reading these com