I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends

So, yesterday was not a very positive day.  I'd even say it was my most "not positive" day so far. Any of you that keep up with education and all the new policies and procedures in place might understand a little bit the difficulty in staying positive lately.   Teacher evaluations/ratings, new retirement plan, new health plan (and paying more for both), combined with the lack of appreciation and respect for my profession had me feeling blue.  Thinking about it all was only making me more negative as I processed it all.  What to do?  So I did what every other person who has a computer/smartphone and a pulse does....  I posted my status to Facebook.   It said:  "Positivity waning.  Help."  An electronic SOS.
That made me feel a little better.

Then I went for a long walk with my dog.  Temperatures have been in the 70's, unseasonably warm so I took advantage of it.  I thought positive thoughts as I walked. Thoughts like how many things I have in my life to be thankful for.   I reminded myself how lucky I am to have a great family and friends.  I watched as my dog bounded happily through the grass just grateful to be outside after a long day home alone.  Enjoy the little things.
That made me feel a little better.

As I walked in the door, slightly bouyed by my walk, I caught site of it.  My bag.  From school.  With all the "stuff" in it I needed to do/look at that night.  Ugh.  Lucky for me I had managed to shift my mood enough that I wasn't going to let that bag bring me down. If I get to it, I get to it, I told myself.  If I don't, I don't.   Yeah, right.  My personality doesn't do well with that.  If it's there, I need to get to it.
(Sigh).  So, I slugged the bag over near the laptop and the TV, just in case I needed to Google something for school or catch a cooking show for a new recipe.  And a quick check of Facebook wouldn't take up too much time.  How wonderful that in the short time I was out, several people had sent upbeat, positive messages to me.  They assured me it would get better and to "hang in there" and all that rah-rah stuff.
That made me feel better.

When my husband got home from work, he was in a very positive mood.  Which, if any of you know him you know that's pretty much the norm for him.  He talked about his day at work and how he'll be taking on some new responsibilities that he's looking forward to.  I was very happy for him.
That made me feel better.

My daughter called later that night to see how my day was.  Of course she had read my Facebook status and kindly invited me to come visit her in Chicago and she'd help cheer me up.
That really made me feel better.  (And I'm sure I'll take her up on that soon.)

I awoke today and convinced myself that today was going to be much more positive.   A new day full of new experiences.

At school, I stopped by the office to check my mail.    And this is what I found.

Today after school, I passed by a parent and one of my students.  The parent was looking in their child's backpack to make sure he had his homework and had written in his planner.  (He had both.)  As she reached over to hug her son, I said hello to her and she smiled and thanked me.
"For what?" I asked.
She had tears in her eyes.  "For helping [insert student name] with this."
"You're welcome," I replied.  "But HE did it.  He comes in every day and does what he needs to do.  I don't even have to remind him.  He's having a great year!"
"Can I hug you?"  she asked.

I'll be honest with you, June seems like a long way away at this point.  Especially when I have vowed to stay positive and help others around me.  With only two months under my belt, I'm not 100% sure I'm gonna make it.  But this time you all helped me.

 The Beatles said it best:  I get by with a little help from my friends.

Thank you friends.