December Gratitude

My most grateful moments in December- 

1) Decluttered garages- This actually happened over Thanksgiving break, but I can’t help to feel grateful that it was in my past and was accomplished so feverishly. I still had boxes full of things from when we moved into our home three years ago. Today all boxes have been discarded.

2) Texans vs. Patriots game- Tailgating with family and friends. Texans won. End of story.

3) Rediscovering the Book of Luke- Did you know reading Luke chapter 1-24 by taking a chapter a day you discover or affirm the meaning of Christmas? Some days became tough because of late nearly nights, but I would double up to complete. Beautiful words and guidance we should follow on earth. 

4) If Happiness was a Skill session- This was a refreshing session on taking the time to pause and be in the moment. All administrators were required to attend. It was well worth my afternoon and then some.

5) Postcards from other Leaders- Last summer I signed up to be a part of a “pen pal” circle with other leaders across the country. We provided our contact information and were assigned a group of about twenty leaders to send a postcard with an encouraging note. The post card could be sent an any time of the year. I started receiving mine this month. It was heartwarming to receive a handwritten encouraging note from another human being. 

6) Gatherings- I love hosting gatherings in our home. I enjoy providing that hospitality for down time to relax, unwind and just enjoy the company and moment. Nothing fancy. This year we got to host a Christmas gathering. We invited family, friends and co-workers. It was a ton of fun. 

7) Shop with a Cop - I have been blessed to be connected to a police union who sponsors this program every year for our school. We get to take students for an evening of shopping at Walmart. It’s such a rewarding experience for us and even more so for the families. 

8) Christmas Eve mass- I joined a dear friend for the Children’s Christmas Eve mass. It was a beautiful service.

9) Road trip- Took my parents down to Louisiana for a casino trip. Dad hit big with $1,000! 

10) Christmas Day- What was a small gathering turned into a much larger one with our family joining us. It was a perfect evening of bbq around the fire. 

Mindfulness

It has become the buzz word. Mindfulness. Is this another fad or is it something we need to pay mind to?

I attended a Social Emotional training back at the beginning of the school year by Keeth Matheny. It was a great session. The focus was about being mindful and in the present. Our district brought him back this past week. We had a choice to attend one of the three sessions being offered. The session was titled “If Happiness was a Skill.” I chose the last session of the day.

The first thing he had us do was mark our happiness at the moment on a scale. We were going to mark ourselves on the scale at end of the session too. At that point I inferred I would most likely leave this session with joy because this guy was about to take us on a ride. 

What I was affirmed with at the end of the class are in the list below. I say affirmed because I know these things. I’ve been in bits of practice with this since a year ago when I was in my Leadership class. One of the first topics covered during class was about how to leave work behind and get to enjoy your life with family. However, the lecture was one thing. Putting it into practice hasn’t quite shifted to habit just yet.  Here they are:

• Happiness is a decision.
• Our thoughts elicit emotion that creates our behaviors that impact our world.
• Be in the present.
• Savor your moments.
• Pause
• Multitasking isn’t real nor is it effective
• Technology is suppose to make work efficient but not keep you at work all the time. 

To be in the moment and happy with the place you are in is challenging for many people. We are always looking for the next best thing. The next best job, car, home, etc... that we forget that the moment we are in is something we most likely prayed for at one time. We expect the next thing to make us happy rather than being happy in the moment we are in.

My life experiences thus far have taught me how to see the bigger picture. It’s not about what the next day holds or where I will be in a year. What matters most is being happy in the moment you are living. What matters is today. 

How will I spend today living my best life?