Happiness

Jefferson Barracks Park

Today was one of those days that I felt truly alive!

These types of days have been surfacing less and less each year.  I want every day to be like today!

First, I needed to drop something off at a friend's house this morning, so I set my alarm for 3:30 a.m.  Shockingly, I hopped right out of bed and got the errand done.  I then drove to South St. Louis County to my favorite park, Jefferson Barracks Park, to walk the trail.  The weather was beautiful, and I even jogged some of the trail.  During my entire walking time, I prayed the Rosary with the Sorrowful Mysteries and then the Divine Mercy Chaplet.  I think this is such a better choice for me than simply listening to music while I walk.  I want to go back and do this again in the morning tomorrow, but I really need to find a good walking park closer to home.

On my walk I saw a bunch of deer (and no bobcats or bears, thank goodness!).

I was feeling good when my walk ended at 8am.  I didn't feel like driving home in morning rush hour, so I took back roads and took a nice drive.  Windows open, music blasting.  It was amazing!  I stopped to get some breakfast and then drove some more.  This time, I had my roof and all the windows open, my car stereo on max (it's a miracle I didn't blow a speaker), and I even took my shirt off (oh yes I did!).  Well, I was wearing a sports bra, but I had never done that before!  I thought, why the hell not?!  I wanted to get a little sun on my skin, and taking the shirt off would do it.

When I got home from driving for 3 hours, (!), I took a 3 hour nap before going into work.  A coworker commented that I looked like I was glowing.  Yes.  Yes, I was.

A glorious day in the midst of some crazy this week.  What an absolute blessing!  I hope tomorrow provides at least a moment that is like today.

Thank you, God, for today!

{Book Review} Rita's Story

It is a rare occasion for me to stay up through the wee hours of the morning reading a book.  These wonderful occasions have typically been reserved for captivating, cliffhanger reads including R. L. Stine, Harry Potter and Twilight.  Yet, this wonderful book sale find of 50 cents was read within 4 days time (with only 3 days of actual reading!).  I couldn't put it down.

I wasn't even going to purchase this book.  It doesn't look like anything special.  On the back cover I read one sentence about a healing, and I decided to take a chance.  I was mainly impressed because the book was signed and dated by the author...for 50 cents?  My nerderific bibliophile self was intrigued.

This memoir was engaging and so interesting!  I loved reading every moment of it.  I laughed.  I cried.  I prayed along.  I stopped to reflect on my own life.

I honestly believe that I was supposed to read this book.  I was surprised to read about her studying at Maryville College in St. Louis (where I received 2 of my own degrees) and her work with special education (which I also do).  God spoke to me in a way in this little unassuming book that changed my life.

Read this book.

I will let you borrow my copy.

I plan to share this with all of my friends.

{Book Review} Being George Washington

Although I purchased and started reading this book in late February, I did not finish it until last night.  I must say, I usually enjoy a good biography or works by Glenn Beck because they read authentically to me.

The first half of this book was amazing.  It was told in a journal style about George Washington and the revolutionary period of history.  For the most part, it was chronological, engaging, and wonderfully written.

The last part of the book was less enthralling to me.  A lot of the information seemed to be repetitive, it lost it's chronological appeal, and there was more commentary then actually storyline.  I forced myself to get through it.

Overall, I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to know a little more about this historical time period and the personality of George Washington.  But be diligent to get through the end!

10 Ways to Create Joy Everyday

Even when I am having a Debbie Downer kind of day, I try to create little moments of Joy for myself.  I am typically joyful when I bring joy to others.  Since I encounter many people everyday because I work in an amazing amount of school buildings each week, I have many opportunities to create moments of joy.  Here's how I roll.

1.  Smile.  It may seem sort of a simple way to start, but a genuine smile can make others smile which makes me smile more brightly.  Popping into a classroom with a smile on my face can help to change an atmosphere.  It might even make that stressed out secretary smile as well.

2.  Compliment.  I think I once read that it takes 17 positive statements in order for someone to get back to equal with their self-esteem after one negative comment.  I try to point out small things like clothes, hair, bulletin boards, etc.  But, also look for greater compliments, like how people are behaving or executing their joy duties.  Compliments usually lead to smiles (see number 1).

3.  Ask a question and redirect if necessary.  I like to ask, "How is your day going?"  This can be risky, because there is always the chance you will get the answer of "horrible!"  If the answer is positive, share that joy and validate the answer.  If the answer is negative, validate the feeling and redirect with something like, "Well, there's only 30 more minutes until dismissal, I'm sure you can make it!"  OR "I'm sure the day will get better; remember, at least one good thing happens even on a bad day."  Sure, some people will be annoyed, but most will latch on to your positivity!

4.  Do something silly.  Yes, I said silly!  This can break tension in a classroom and make people smile.  Yes, they may be smiling because they think you are insane, but still smiling (see number 1).  I usually sing silliness.  This is usually an impromptu greeting in the classroom or making up a random song about something happening in the moment (like singing, Hello Miss so-and-so, how are you doing today?).  Bonus:  Sometimes people sing back to you.  That makes my day!

5.  Leave notes.  Sometimes it's an email, text message, card, or note on a dry erase board.  But, I love to leave notes.  Even if it is a thanks for a great meeting or a gracious thank you for allowing me to use a space for therapy, notes can make someones day. 

6.  Say thank you.  Many times, people are taken for granted.  Even getting someone to unlock a room for me in a building for the bazillionth time deserves a heartfelt thank you.  It can go a long way.

7.  Listen.  Sometimes, people just need to vent or have someone listen to them.  Take a moment and listen.

8.  Keep your promises.  I have to admit, that this one is sometimes hard for me.  My "to-do" list gets so long that some of the lofty promises I make cannot be accomplished (I need to be more realistic instead of idealistic!).  When you are there for someone, trust increases along with joyful moments.

9.  Bring a treat.  Sharing a meal or snack (or chocolate!) is usually a joyful moment.  I wish I was in buildings more often so I could bring more snacks to my coworkers.

10.  Pray.  Yes, yes, I know what you are thinking.  I work in public schools where prayer is totally taboo.  Well, I tell people I will pray for them (usually after number 7).  And, I follow through.  Hopefully, this will result in joy!

How do you bring JOY to your day?

Give Me Liberty or Give Me...

Contraception?  Seriously?

I have been waiting to post about the HHS Mandate for a while.  I sort of wanted to sit back and see what happened.

Oh, and I see what is happening.

I don't know why we are all shocked.  It's just our mega-government once again dictating to us what we can and cannot do.  The government is trying to push the us to the limit of religious freedom to see how we respond.  If we are passive, the government will continue to push further next time - and so on.

As Cardinal Dolan has stated time and time again, this is not about contraception.  That talking point is a distraction to try and make the Catholic Church look "anti-woman" to the rest of the populous.  It's all about freedom of religion.  And, all of a sudden, I feel like I have something in common with the Patriots who fought for freedom against King George.

Even though my view of contraception is not in step with mainstream culture (geez, can you just have some self-control and close your legs once in a while?), when did it become a "right" for women to receive contraception?  Oh wait.  It's not.  You have a right to pursue happiness.  If happiness for you includes contraception (which I do not agree with) then, by all means, use your money that you earn to purchase such contraception or procure a job that provides it for you.  That is your CHOICE.  Don't take away a Church's or Company's choice by mandating them to go against their own beliefs or conscience.  

How do you feel about the attack on religious freedom in America?

The Red Pill

You may have noticed that my little soul hasn't posted in a while.  Well, that's because I have been feeling like I'm living in the movie "The Matrix."



 Does anybody else feel this way?  When did I swallow the red pill?  Seriously, WHEN?  Because I feel like most people are just living in a daze, not understanding or knowing what is actually happening in the country.  I am really wondering when everyone else is going to wake up and smell the crazy.

I don't think I realized how counter-cultural I was becoming until Catholicism was getting so much media attention with the HHS mandate.  Oy.

First of all, I dislike using the term "counter-cultural" because when you do a google image search for this term, you either find things that have peace signs plastered all over the place or communist propaganda.  Again, I say OY.  I just have this feeling that what others consider the "norm" nowadays is something I am rapidly running away from.

Signs that I am moving toward a "counter-cultural" lifestyle (and, perhaps, a sign of impending doom):

1.  I want to get rid of my television.  Don't get me wrong, I want to keep local channels because I live in tornado alley without a basement to retreat to.  However, even American Idol, Grey's Anatomy, and reruns of Friends don't keep my attention anymore.  I'd honestly rather be sleeping.

2.  I can no longer listen to mainstream music.  This is especially disturbing to me since I work as a music therapist.  I listen to contemporary christian music on the radio and occasionally I listen to music that was popular during my high school years (Nirvana, STP, etc.).  However, this is few and far between.

3.  I don't care about celebrities.  At all.  Movie releases, award shows, gossip, TMZ, and all that is related could just as well not exist and I would be a-okay.  I've never really been one to be a celeb-bot (well, except for that phase in fifth and sixth grade with NKOTB), but I used to be able to carry on an intelligent conversation about people.  Now, I have no clue.  But honestly, who really cares.  Not this girl.

4.  I openly admit to people that I watch/listen Glenn Beck, and I don't care what they think about that.  I used to be a closeted Glenn Beck lover.  You know what I'm talking about...  You meet someone and you basically have to talk in code to find out you both like Beck.  This is followed by a ginormous sigh of relief and a smile.

5.  I'm really not interested in fashion anymore.  I'm worried about function that looks good on me.  Perhaps this is age-related more than anything, but I did fluorescent colors when I was in 6th grade, and I don't feel like reliving that time in history.

Does anyone else feel this way?  Do you feel like something is changing?  Can you feel the cultural momentum?

Amazing Love

I've mentioned before that many times God kicks me in the head, so to speak, about what I am supposed to be doing and focusing on.  Are they usually easy things?  Ummm, absolutely not.  These things have consequences including dealing with upset family, losing friends, canceling a wedding, being threatened, mocked, and other craptastic things.

And now?  Randomly (random in my mind, not to God of course) reconnecting my friend and I after about a 5 year absence of contact.  Realizing this friend is enslaved to some major sin, and now God prompting me to do something about it.

Tonight, a series of events took place that blew my mind.

First, I am prompted to teach PSR at Cletus this year.  I am beginning to become friends with one of the teachers.  Said teacher randomly invites me to XLT tonight at Cletus.  The talk at Cletus was like God crafted the information to speak directly to my heart about my friend.  Because of said talk and Eucharistic Adoration, I am renewed and strengthened to pray and talk to my friend.

Amazing Love.  Poured out for me and all.  God's love has no boundaries, and I am to share that love with my friend, even if I am mocked, persecuted, or whatever.

I think one of the hardest things is that I don't know what God's Will is in all of this.  I could pray until the cows come home, and perhaps I won't see any change in him.  All I know is that this will change me and carve my heart a little closer to God.

Pray for me.  Pray for my friend.  Pray that God's Will be done.