I've Got Sunshine On a Cloudy Day

I'm not sure that I'm aware of what the current stereotypes are toward teachers. I don't know what goes through a person's mind when I answer the ice breaker, "so what do you do?" with two simple words; "I teach." Perhaps people think I color and laugh and tell stories all day. Or maybe, if the conversation reaches the fact that I teach high school English they might think we write poems and dissect the meaning behind different literary works by Poe, Shakespeare, and Dickinson. I don't know what people think. What I do know is the truth. I know the truth behind the stress, frustration, gratitude, and little victories each teacher shares. I know the look of fear, belonging, fatigue, sadness, and invincibility on the faces of teenagers; inner city,  multicultural, intelligent, deprived, and ever so resilient teenagers. Today was a 14 hour day. I woke up at the usual time, watched the sun rise over the highway while I listened to my book on tape,

I believe it's quite obvious that my favorite word is gratitude , and I think it's a good word to promote. I have a gratitude jar, a gratitude journal, and an overall attitude of gratitude. I am thankful for breathing and being and everything in between. But I also believe that there is an extreme importance and need to increase the words "thank you." A few weeks ago in the mail I sent a card to a good friend over in the midwest. She sent me a text to say thank you. For a card! On the same day, I sent a card to a friend up in Massachusetts with a small little insert that reminded me of her. She sent me a snapchat and said thank you. Also for a card! I brought a hostess gift to a friend's parents in New York and just got the most thoughtful thank you card in the mail. It mad me smile, it made me realize how grateful they were, and it made me want to continue giving. They all truly appreciate the little things, as well as the big things. Saying thank you these days,