(Sigh) This is so good.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882)

A PSALM OF LIFE

WHAT THE HEART OF THE YOUNG MAN
SAID TO THE PSALMIST

TELL me not, in mournful numbers,
Life is but an empty dream ! —
For the soul is dead that slumbers,
And things are not what they seem.

Life is real ! Life is earnest!
And the grave is not its goal ;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul.

Not enjoyment, and not sorrow,
Is our destined end or way ;
But to act, that each to-morrow
Find us farther than to-day.

Art is long, and Time is fleeting,
And our hearts, though stout and brave,
Still, like muffled drums, are beating
Funeral marches to the grave.

In the world's broad field of battle,
In the bivouac of Life,
Be not like dumb, driven cattle !
Be a hero in the strife !

Trust no Future, howe'er pleasant !
Let the dead Past bury its dead !
Act,— act in the living Present !
Heart within, and God o'erhead !

Lives of great men all remind us
We can make our lives sublime,
And, departing, leave behind us
Footprints on the sands of time ;

Footprints, that perhaps another,
Sailing o'er life's solemn main,
A forlorn and shipwrecked brother,
Seeing, shall take heart again.

Let us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate ;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Learn to labor and to wait.

Education Classes That Should've Been Available...

How To Straighten Desks Every Week Without Losing Your Mind 1340

What To Do When Students Swear At Each Other In Class 101

How To Make Your Favorite YouTube Video Educational 1260
with the follow up class, Skipping Over Bad Words In Educational YouTube Videos 1270

Responses For Students Blatantly Telling You They Didn't Do Their Homework, 1010, 1060, 2010, 3500

Suppressing Laughter When A Student Says Something Funny During Your Lecture 2610

Witty Comebacks 4250

Writing In A Straight Line On A Whiteboard 1030

The Best Snacks/Chocolate To Get You Through A Long Week 2230

Using Every Second Of The 6 Minutes Between Classes 1200

Maneuvering Through A Hall Full Of Teenagers 950

Understanding The Randomness At Which Your Classroom Technology Will Function 470R

Joys of being a teacher. =)

Being a Grown-Up

I've re-entered the life of the semi-responsible, and it's proving more difficult than I imagined. I'm tired. I just want to be sleeping right now. Not awaiting another class of teenagers that take having a substitute as having a day to do anything not normally acceptable in a classroom. Who can blame them though? I acted the same way in high school. I get a kick out of the fact that these kids think that I'm unintelligent. Rather, that they're more intelligent than I am, and that an eye roll is the appropriate response for my instructions. Bless their little teenager hearts and sassy attitudes. I adore the fact that they think their lives are of upmost importance. I love this profession. Sincerely, no sarcasm intended. I love what I do/will do in the future.

With that said, being a "grown-up" is still an overwhelming thought sometimes. Granted, I'm 24, live at my parents house, have little to no actual responsibility, very few bills, and revel in that fact. I think it's the lack of spontanaeity that's difficult for me. I've never been the type of person to take off to Spain with a weeks notice, or even to St. George for the weekend without thourough planning, but the idea that I need to be in the same place every day for 180 consecutive days seems a little daunting. Yet, I've picked a profession that will allow me a lifestyle that I've always wanted. No nights or weekends, and three months off in the summer. It's perfect really.

Most days I really want to be more productive and doing things with my life, which is what I'm doing today. Substitute from 7:00 to 2:30, then wait tables from 4:00 to 10:30. Active, productive, making money to put away into savings. But today, I don't want to be a grown-up. Today, I just wanted to sleep until 9:00 and then go snowboarding. Then maybe take a nap. Watch my favorite TV show. Then read a book until I fell asleep.

But alas, a grown-up I shall be.

Reasons to Be Happy

I've found a new reason to be happy this year, that I've never enjoyed any other year. SNOW! Wow I love the snow. Somehow having bought and paid for a season pass to Snowbird has made me revel in the scary roads, dark days, and frosty windows. And it got me thinking...

How much do I see in my life that I think the worst of? What do I come across that could be an opportunity to feel great about? What can I do to increase my own happiness so that I can increase the happiness of others?

There's a sister in the Relief Society Presidency in my stake. Every single time I see her, she makes me feel like the greatest person she's ever met. She lights up and immediately validates anything I have to say to her. She is incredible, and she makes everyone around her feel incredible as well. I once made a goal for myself to have a "contagious" but very genuine personality, and I've realized that this is exactly what this amazing sister is. She is genuinely contagious. And I want to be just like her. Now it's in figuring out how to do that. Here's a quote that will help me start...

"Be helpful. When you see a person without a smile, give him yours."
Zig Ziglar


My bluntness has always been a problem of mine, it gets me into trouble. I'm hoping to turn it to a positive thing instead.So to anyone that reads this, I truly and sincerely think you are fantastic. I wouldn't say it if I didn't mean it.