Good things in 2013!!

                                           

    

As 2012 was coming to an end, I saw many posts on Facebook for a great way to find the positive in 2013.  It's basically taking a jar, and starting Jan 1, writing down good things that happen to you, and putting them into the jar.  Then, on New Year's Eve 2013, read through the contents of the jar in order to help you remember all of the good things, big and small, that happened throughout the year.

I decided to take on this challenge, as I always seem to be needing help looking at the positives in my daily life.  I found a jar in our cabinet o' glass jars -- I think it was an old spaghetti sauce jar -- and I used fabrics of different colors and decoupaged the outside of it.  It is very colorful and sparkly, and once dry I set it on the desk in the entry of our house.  This way, I see it every day, and that helps me to remember to write things down and put them in the jar. 

(None of these are my jar, since I don't have a smart phone to post my pictures online, but you'll have to trust me that it's pretty cool.)

Some folks are trying to write down one thing a day; me, I'm just writing down the good things as I encounter them so that I'm not pressuring myself.  But Joe even asked me if he could add things to the jar as well!  So, now that the year has begun, we have a few pieces of paper in the jar, and I have several things in my head that I still need to write down. 

What a great way to focus on the joyous, positive events throughout the year!

Chemistry

I'm enjoying a couple of weeks off from work, and it has been really really rejuvenating.  I have been pretty stressed out and burning out at work for a while now, and though I still love *where* I work, I feel less than confident in my current role. I've sustained a lot of injuries over the last twelve months, mostly while attempting to keep really traumatized little ones from hurting themselves or others.  But I power on, trying to keep myself healthy and muster enough energy to be as positive as possible with my students.  NOT easy.

In fact, I had to turn to my doctor for help in the form of medication -- yes, I'm now on an antidepressant.


Me, a "Qualified Mental Health Professional" with about 20 years' experience working with a challenging population of children with special needs.  Administering meds to most of those little ones every day.  Now taking one myself.  And it has helped me get through some really overwhelming and traumatizing times (yes, we adults can be traumatized, too).

So, here's to the makers of modern medicine, who help those who try to help others.  Thanks.