I decided to allow this blog to stray away from running a little because, well, it's not just a training blog anymore, and there are tons of things I love in life. Running just happens to be one of them.
So, 2nd grade. When I started teaching 2 and 1/2 years ago, I honestly wasn't sure if I would like 7 and 8 year olds or teaching at all. I wanted to teach something besides phonics and basic addition and subtraction, but as time has gone on, I've come to love it. I love seeing how their minds work. I'm always amazed at how much they are capable of doing. Everyday I'm dumbfounded by their abilities to learn and their abilities to love. In the three years I've been teaching, every kid has been so original. There have been similar personalities for sure, but each is so incredibly different. They have quirky habits, fantastic talents and fun personalities. As I've watched them come into who they are, I've grown into who I am. Since I've been teaching, I have discovered talents I have. I have learned that the awards I got in school like being courteous and kind and all of those so-called boring things actually meant I was the teacher's favorite student :) and that those talents and the ones I actually do possess are of value and matter more than being able to play the piano or play BYU soccer. Yes, I do still want to accomplish goals, but I have inborn talents for which I need to be grateful.
I hadn't meant to sound all philosophical but this is what it has become. Today I was reading the book Dream by Susan V. Bosak to my students in order to practice creating images in our heads as we read. I got this book for Christmas last year from my principal and assistant principal. The first time I read it to myself, I remember thinking it wasn't that great for kids. However, I hadn't planned enough one day last year, and it happened to be the first thing I could see to save me from 25 pairs of eyes staring at me to see what's next, so I read it. When I read it that time, it meant something to me. I excitedly called Mom as soon as school was done. The book is about life and each stage of it. It was one of those light bulb moments that the Spirit bore witness to me that I was okay, that I was doing the right thing, and so many other people were dealing with the same things as I was. I haven't read this book for almost a year. However today as I read it, I realized I have a whole new set of problems than the ones I had last year. Those ones that I was dealing with last year, I don't even remember them. I do remember though that at the moment I thought they were just as hard. It really gave me perspective on life. Whatever I'm going through now will pass, and it won't seem like such a big deal. In the meantime I am trying to follow Elder Wirthlin's counsel to simply, "Come what may, and love it." I'm trying to laugh through life even when I am stuck in the airport at 3:00 in the morning, trying to sleep but too cold, with all of the lights on or when I break up with someone, catch the flu, and realize my roommates are evil as I sit at home not able to go to church. I was proud that I was able to laugh. I'm trying to thank my Heavenly Father for the blessings that I do have right now which are so many. I'm attempting to look outside myself even when things are hard. Maybe I will eventually become perfect at loving every second of life. I hope.
Anyway lots of people have helped me along the journey lately. One such happens to be Rob. Rob played rugby at BYU. Yes, he was probably one of the boys I couldn't stop looking at on Saturday rugby games I attended. He's had 8 concussions, so he no longer plays. He's crazy. And he's become the friend that I needed lately. He came to visit my class last Friday and taught my kids the Haka (Maori War Dance). Now to explain, the Haka is definitely a man's dance. I've always LOVED it, but it was because the rugby team and the football team looked so darn good doing it. That did not mean I wanted to do it especially in front of an adorable boy and 24 kids, but I cracked under pressure, and here it is. Luckily through the lens of the camera, much of my blushing was covered up, but you can visibly see the awkwardness.
This is my life lately, and I love it.
