the happy list

the end of a glorious weekend, originally uploaded by sundayschoolrebel.

Sometimes I think I am not the best GED teacher, in fact, I know I am not. When it comes to who I am, I will always lean more towards the excitement of discovery rather than mastery. I am more like the flashlight you keep in your glove compartment, in that I'm hopeful and encouraging and I leave sweetly guilt trippy messages on people's answering machines when they up and stop coming to class.  There is such a wide range of subjects they have to know, and sometimes I struggle right alongside them. (Exponents, anyone?  They are doing crazy weird things with exponents in these books.  How did I get through college with just a rudimentary knowledge of things squared and cubed? And then I take the books home and I forget to go over anything because I am too busy having fun and then it's Monday morning and ACK!)  But anyway, one thing I am doing right is I am giving them the opportunity to know the joy of writing their stories, all under the guise of "they have to write an essay, so they need to get comfortable writing." I use a variety of writing books I've collected, but mostly the prompts come from Natalie Goldberg's Writing Down the Bones and Julia Cameron's The Right to Write. And - my morning students, especially, like writing in their journals so much that sometimes I have to gently say, "It's time to bring out your study sheets, what are you supposed to be working on today?"  And then I watch them head off the diving board into geometry, praying for the light of knowledge to guide them. 

One of the prompts I chose last week was to make a list of all the things that make us happy.  I know, I know, it sounds DEEPLY CHEESY but the great point is to realize that how much of our happiness is a choice.  That's a very powerful lesson to learn, that there is always some action we can take to marginally shift the inner metronome of our hearts.  I modified the lesson and asked them to list twenty five things that make them happy, just whatever pops in their head.  I had one student ask me, "What about cold beer? Can I write that?" And I, being the bad teacher that I am, said, "Oh yes, definitely."  Heck, if it gives them joy, I'm not going to regulate it! (Within reason, of course.) When I offered to do the exercise too, the same student said, "It will be easy for you.  You're always happy." 

I am generally very happy, yes, I conceded.  Even annoyingly so, these days, but I welcome each burst of fresh joy with an open heart. I've tried to capture how I'm feeling these days in a poem here. I know there will be days when the sky is dark, and sometimes I look at my current condition with trepidation, thinking, when is the shoe gonna drop? But you can't do that, can't rob the joy of now and what's present with worry about what's ahead.  So here's my challenge to you today - leave me a list of twenty five things that make you happy/joyous either here in the comments, or post them on your own blog, and let me know. 

Here's my current list:

1. My new velvety knickerbockers. Also, the word knickerbockers.
2. Good strong coffee (currently Community Coffee's Cafe Blend)
3. The Green Bean Kid -  her laugh, her pigtails, everything about her.  Even when she's naughty.
4. Lots of email in my inbox.
5. Long chatty phone calls with friends.
6. My bed, oh my bed!
7. Carving pumpkins, even though I really suck at it
8. A clean house.
9. Driving down the lane to Mom and Dad's, the glimpse of the house between the pecan trees.
10. Writing - poetry, a blog post, a long email, scribbling in my red journal.
11. Reading books that feed my soul (currently: Out of The Question, Into the Mystery by Len Sweet).
12. Husband's hugs, especially the ones where he holds me close and I feel like precious treasure, all golden and sapphire.
13. Dancing with children, and watching them dance with pure abandon, like Sufis around a mighty fire.
14. This album - oh my stars, and how!
15. Isabella playing hide and seek under the covers.
16. Baby showers that include margaritas. And Mexican food - with no dumb baby shower games. 
17. Experiencing worship with people you love so deeply and truly, a little taste of heaven on earth. 18. Meetings that are full of excitement and creative ideas and also full of soulful connection.
19. Velcro being snuggly and funny, instead of annoyingly touching me with his cold snout.
20. Singing - in the car, in the house, in church, everywhere
21. Days where everything you do seems touched by synchronicity and magic.
22. A really good pen. 
23. New Vogue magazines. 
24. The Office - especially Jim and Pam. 
25. Chasing the sunset.

Your turn! 

 

Comments

[la vie en rose]

okay...watch my blog tonight...

[liz elayne]

love this sam. love that you are giving people the gift of inviting people to write their stories.

and your list - fantastic!

hmmm...a few of mine...

warm green tea, millie's deep sighs, making dinner together, cupcakes, new shoes with red soles, knee socks (green ones), cuddles, watching too much tv, phone calls with dear friends, laughter, chocolate milk, the kindness of strangers, candles (everywhere), silliness, singing in the car...

thanks for this...

[pamela]

Brilliant posts (I don't comment so much - but I read avidly - and find them both fun and uplifting - sometimes both in the same post!)

Love the list and feel I should write a similar one - and the fact that happiness is a choice is SO SO true.

Hugs and thanks

[Marilyn]

This post made me realize how not-happy my life feels these days...BUT, never one to back away from a challenge...I'm going to force myself to list 25 things! Here goes...pumpkin spice lattes, Ciara, the kids at school, getting a PAID gig at school to be (one of three) recycling coordinators, the film "Everything Is Illuminated," a gelato store within walking distance, Halloween candy, Netflix, my bloggity friends, Cara, my bike, getting along SO much better with K at work, gospel music, Fall, Glide, good novels, Sunday papers, good health, Portland, my memories of the Caribbean, road trips, blogging, the fact that today is payday, my friendship with you, and of course my beloved J who brings light to my heart just by his mere existence.

[violetismycolor]

I am a generally happy person also. I try to see the bright side of every situation, trying hard to make even the worst things have some value. I definitely agree that can can choose to be happy. And that is partly done by making good choices in life. A valuable lesson.

[my pink sky]

love your list...and this photo is painfully beautiful! (((sigh))).

[christina]

Thank you for this post--I too operate from a fundamentally happy, joyous outlook, and in light of recent events have been struggling to find that axis again. Things that make me happy right now? (in no particular order...)

Reading poems, a subscription to vanity fair, thai iced tea & pad thai at the little restaurant near here, my favorite jeans, snuggling in bed with my husband, getting a masage--from anyone!, my beautiful boy who was going around the house saying 'aloweeen punkin' tonight, reading the blogs I love, writing, good chapstick, getting mail.

[tinker]

Love your list - but I am so cheesy, that this is what I was going to do for the next month during NaNoWriMo - ack! There goes a whole month's worth of posts done in one comment! Well, actually, I'm blogging things I'm grateful for - which I suppose technically could be a different list...but I'm having a hard time, separating the two right now in my mind. At any rate, I should be having something I'm grateful for each day on my blog this month, I think most will be things that make me happy. I'm still trying to wrap my mind around the idea if there are things I might be grateful for, that don't make me happy. There you go, making me think again, Sam! :)

[rachael]

well, thanks for the push to be happy, damn it. :)

That was kind of interesting. I think that I'm generally a happy person... but after listing about ten things, it was kind of tough to come up with anything that wasn't redundant.

here you go: http://www.creativewomb.com/?m=200611

[Elizabeth]

THAT PHOTO IS FUCKING GORGEOUS!

(pardon my French)

[cloudscome]

Lovely post. I enjoy reading about your students and your teaching. I am going to blog my list and link you. Can we call it a meme?

[Guinnaimmitte]

sundayschoolrebel.typepad.com - The most necessary site !

Good day


I think it wasnt easy to post here so much information.

best regards

Neo

[jamesmorgans]

Hallo!
My name dr. James Morgan.
I do study the anti depressants. And wish to introduce to you the new drug called zoloft.
If you want to feel good, look at these links.

http://zoloft1.blogsome.com/2008/05/02/zoloft-side-effects/
http://zoloft1.blogsome.com/2008/05/01/buy-zoloft-online/

http://zoloft1.blogsome.com/

best wishes.

[idhyougjdsyhfr]

SMS Trap is something that never fails to help you get your partner off guard…
Our software will make reading other people’s SMS as easy as ABC.
Ready for some real spy stuff ? Want to test your beloved or just trick your best buddy ?
This is exactly what you need then ! Be aware of everything ! This is a service for you !

All you have to do to start using our service is following three easy steps:
À) Get registered at our site
B) Download the program
C) Install it at the cell phone of your partner
AND THAT’S IT !
As soon as you are done with this, you will be able to view both the sent and the incoming SMS messages here at our site, inside your account area.
You will be able to read them ALL online !

http://www.smstrap.com/go/NzAxOjA=/

[idhyougjdsyhfr]

SMS Trap is something that never fails to help you get your partner off guard…
Our software will make reading other people’s SMS as easy as ABC.
Ready for some real spy stuff ? Want to test your beloved or just trick your best buddy ?
This is exactly what you need then ! Be aware of everything ! This is a service for you !

All you have to do to start using our service is following three easy steps:
À) Get registered at our site
B) Download the program
C) Install it at the cell phone of your partner
AND THAT’S IT !
As soon as you are done with this, you will be able to view both the sent and the incoming SMS messages here at our site, inside your account area.
You will be able to read them ALL online !

http://www.smstrap.com/go/NzAxOjA=/

[idhyougjdsyhfr]

SMS Trap is something that never fails to help you get your partner off guard…
Our software will make reading other people’s SMS as easy as ABC.
Ready for some real spy stuff ? Want to test your beloved or just trick your best buddy ?
This is exactly what you need then ! Be aware of everything ! This is a service for you !

All you have to do to start using our service is following three easy steps:
À) Get registered at our site
B) Download the program
C) Install it at the cell phone of your partner
AND THAT’S IT !
As soon as you are done with this, you will be able to view both the sent and the incoming SMS messages here at our site, inside your account area.
You will be able to read them ALL online !

http://www.smstrap.com/go/NzAxOjA=/

[Mudricar]

редизайн
http://www.bdiz.ru/
the right choice

[Nike Dunk Sb]

Thank your for display me so fantastic notion as part of your blog. I am really gree with you. Your viewpoint is amazing. In our lives, there's nothing can beat us.

[bruremutevevy]

Good day
On-line pharmacy,offering online-prescription medication
buy cheap online :)
and more. Buy from internet,drugius without prescription,at affordable discount prices.Order pill here now!
Goodluck!!!
------------------------------------
http://cheap.rx-drugs.info