Things That Matter

I tend to be overdramatic and become emotional about issues that have nothing to do with me. I have a difficult time reading books that discuss the mistreatment of animals, old people, and children. I seldom watch the news because I find myself in tears listening to stories about abuse, neglect, illness, etc. (I also don't watch the news because I hate Obama's presidency and I can't stand what's going on). I also am stubborn, have no patience, and I'm so often surprised that people don't know how I feel that perhaps I expect others to read my mind. More likely, I may not communicate as effectively as I'd like to think I do.



What does all this mean? It means that I often must stop and count my blessings. I know it sounds corny, and maybe it is. I'm a corny person. I like country music, and have John Denver songs on my new (to me) Ipod. I'm sentimental and I cry a lot. But I must remind myself about what's truly important, and find a balance. I can work to help alleviate the suffering of others, but I have to look around me and remember how much I have to be grateful for. So, I'm going to make a short list of what I'm grateful for. By no means is it a complete list - that could take forever and too much webspace. Just a short list of the things I'm thankful for today.



1. I love my job. Let's face it - I'm lucky to have a job. This economy blows, and I've only been a full-time employee for the last five years. I loved staying home with my family even though we couldn't afford it. I am glad I did it, and I'm glad that when I did start work Rich switched to a night shift so he could be with the kids during the day. We saved a ton of money (that we couldn't afford) on daycare. I don't want to start a daycare debate but it was very important to me that the kids were home with one of their parents when they were babies. And that preschool was part-time, and a choice. Anyway, my job is challenging, time-consuming, and sometimes a pain, but I love it. I love that I'm home in time to pick up the kids almost every day and that I drop them off at the bus stop in the morning. I'm lucky enough to work for a school district that believes that family comes first, and I can usually get time off to see my kid's performances and attend conferences.

2. My family is relatively healthy. Having two healthy kids is nothing to take for granted. Each of my children underwent surgery when they were very young, and it's a scary process. Seeing truly sick children in the hospital made me very grateful that my children were having minor day surgeries. Working with high school students that are undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, and brain surgery affects me more as a mother than as a teacher. Rich is under close scrutiny of his doctor, having yearly colonoscopies and testing his blood after his surgery for Cushing syndrome. But overall he's healthy, and starting to take more interest in watching his diet. My sister and I are adorable healthy and are actually having fun losing weight on weight watchers. Her kids and husband are healthy, and my parents are also relatively healthy. Not that they don't scare us every now and then. Given the friends I have who have lost loved ones to cancer, heart attacks, and various diseases, and the media frenzy surrounding H1N1, I consider myself very, very lucky.

3. It's the holidays! Thanksgiving is always one of my favorites because it's about family, not stuff. It's the first time that I see a lot of my aunts and cousins each year, and the focus is on hanging out and eating, and catching up. And eating. I do love Thanksgiving foods. And desserts. Hence, weight watchers. And although I love Thanksgiving because it's not about stuff, I do love stuff. I love buying gifts, and receiving gifts, and the older my kids get the more fun Chanukah is for the family. This year Chanukah is over before Christmas begins, and that makes my life so much easier. I do still have quite a bit of shopping to do, but the majority is over.

I don't make resolutions, but this year I am going to spend more time worrying about the things that matter, and the situations that I have control over. There's not much use obsessing about the things I can't change. But I'm going to spend some time every day being thankful for the things that are truly important.