A week of disappointment...

Just a week of disappointment...
I have not been blogging very much here lately. The schedule has been SO hectic. And debilitating. I am exhausted and am looking forward to Thanksgiving...where I will be more than thankful for the rest and a break.
Kids making wrong choices.  Dealing with back-stabbing and folks who feel it is their place to stick noses into places that it just isn't needed nor requested. Folks making choices about my program with little to no involvement. Students who have so much visible potential and are pushing every button possible and stumbling, setting themselves up for failure. Frustrated with my lack of patience regarding life in general. It takes a large amount of BS to pile up for me to finally take the bull by the horns and boy HOWDY, I am reaching that point in some aspects of my life.
What I have to do is keep reminding myself why I keep doing this...Reminding myself that it is these moments that define me. Moments that toughen me. Moments that strengthen my spine.
Sure this past week had some pretty amazing "pinch me" kinda moments. From getting the chance to see my kids perform in their 9th grade/ 10th grade fall play to watching some great Forensics individual events getting ready for next weekend's competition. I got the chance to go hear an all-around great guy perform his music at a local pub for a date night. I even got the chance to facilitate a movie premiere organized to raise money for a scholarship fund...this event also contained a Q&A with Michael Urie, of Ugly Betty fame. He was so nice. So sweet. So giving and inspirational to our students. I loved the opportunity to do this and he was such a motivational speaker and was able to connect how his success as a director/ actor/ producer can be tied to his work in a Forensics program in Texas. SO COOL!!!!
It's in those moments when dark clouds knock at the door or cloud my day...I gotta remind myself of these gleaming moments and keep praying for patience and guidance and lightness of being.

And then a sweet friend posts this on her Facebook page and I know that there is a hand in this life of mine...leading me through...

How do you plan on living an extraordinary life?

Gentle reminders,friends.

Gentle reminders...

When society demands that you "Man Up"

Heck, who am I to say that the strongest people have cried in front of me when I am usually the one tearing up. I have always said that I am much more in touch with my feminine side rather than with my masculine side...and that is sad when I read that. What that statement implies is that feminine is weak and emotional. That masculine is a symbol of strength, untowering and unwavering...emotionless...

And that could not be farther from the truth. Both sexes are strong. Both sexes are driven and powerful. Both have the capacity to be emotional and feel deeply...

But the true fact is that society never allowed one of them to be so...

And to this very day, I think that men are frowned upon to show their emotions.

Sad.

I think it is important to be honest.

I think it is important to be in tune, not only with yourself, but also with others around you.

I fail at this...

I get so busy. I get so caught up in the hectic race of life, the schedule, that I lose connection.

One of my former students brought a poem to the Forensics team last year for competition that was entitled, "Man Up." 

I remember not only being moved by his performance, but also by the strong verbage held within the lines.

The words may be a little off-putting...but the sentiment is strong and the content powerful...

10 Sentences that can CHANGE your Perspective on life

Many of these speak to me on such a prfound level...

So many words and phrases scream out at me

 "Tolerated"

"Limitations"

"See the world"

"Failure builds character"

I think that the slide which states, "The most dangerous risk of all- the risk of spending your life not doing what you want on the bet that you can buy yourself the freedom to do it later." speaks the deepest to me...

How sad...

It's like placing goals in your future, 

Putting off taking those trips...

Putting off crossing off bucket list content...

All while not doing what you really love...

Thinking that someday

SOMEDAY

I will have all the time in the world to be able to do this or that...

I have seen the hurt. I have seen the family saying goodbye when it was time...but there were so many things we needed to say, needed to do, wanted to experience.

Do it NOW.

Experience it now.

Be in the NOW.

Be in the moment and stay focused.

Stand by the edge of the lake and listen to the silver moon whisper "Yes"

(a line from my favorite poem...the Invitation)

Life is an invitation friends...

Saying live it all now cause tomorrow may not be an option.