I was watching The Pursuit of Happyness tonight, and I really started to think about the title of this movie. It's talked about briefly, the main character says "I started thinking about Thomas Jefferson on the Declaration of
Independence and the part about our right to life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness. And I remember thinking how did he know to put the
pursuit part in there? That maybe happiness is something that we can
only pursue and maybe we can actually never have it. No matter what. How
did he know that?" All I was able to think of is exactly what was said in the movie. Is happiness something we can only pursue? Is it possible for us to be truly happy? We are always wanting for something, whether it's something insignificant such as...something to do today, or something hugely significant to us. Regardless of the significance of the want, the want is still there. Is it possible not to want? To be truly content?
I'm sure that when I was a child, I was content and happy. I don't know many kids that aren't. If only we had all listened to Taylor Swift and 'Never Grown up.' I know that in all of these that I find a way to bring up children. It's probably because I spend a lot of time with them, and partly because I truly envy them. They know the secret to true happiness, they don't have to pursue. I think we all knew it at one point.... we just... grew up and forgot how to be happy, forgot how to be content.
I can't really remember the last time that I was truly content. Truly happy. Maybe it's in our nature to constantly yearn and strive and want. Or perhaps it's something that we eventually grow out of. I'm not sure, I don't have any more answers than you do. I'd like to think that it is possible to be happy.
Tuesday, March 27, 2012
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Patience.
I finished reading Tim Tebow's autobiography tonight. I took a lot of things away from this book and I would really recommend it to anyone out there looking for a good book to read. You should probably like sports if you're going to read this book, but there is a heck of a lot more to it than just sports. After I was finished reading it, for the rest of the night I had one bible verse, and consequently one song that I just couldn't seem to get out of my head. The verse was Isaiah 40:31 which goes like this: "Those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with tinges like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary." The song is called Everlasting God, and the specific part of the song that was stuck in my head was the beginning. It said "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord, we will wait upon the Lord."
Now for those of you that haven't quite picked up whats weighing on my heart right now, I'll make it crystal clear. Patience. Waiting upon the lord. For what? I cannot say right now. I believe the message was patience, and trusting your troubles and cares, your triumphs and disappointments with Him. Something that I have been struggling with not only lately, but just in general. It's a very important thing to remember though.
You would think that if we took a look at all of the things that we have been blessed with, and all of the things the he has done since the beginning of time that would be an easy thing to do. We should get that his timing is perfect and that should make it easier to wait even though we may not understand why, just knowing that everything He does is for our benefit should be enough. It's easy to reflect back after whatever we were impatient for has already happened and say that. Trusting in his timing in the moment is the more difficult, but ultimately more important task. I guess what I'm getting at here is the importance of patience and that I'm trying to work on it. Apologies to those who I've been impatient with, forgive me please.
Now for those of you that haven't quite picked up whats weighing on my heart right now, I'll make it crystal clear. Patience. Waiting upon the lord. For what? I cannot say right now. I believe the message was patience, and trusting your troubles and cares, your triumphs and disappointments with Him. Something that I have been struggling with not only lately, but just in general. It's a very important thing to remember though.
You would think that if we took a look at all of the things that we have been blessed with, and all of the things the he has done since the beginning of time that would be an easy thing to do. We should get that his timing is perfect and that should make it easier to wait even though we may not understand why, just knowing that everything He does is for our benefit should be enough. It's easy to reflect back after whatever we were impatient for has already happened and say that. Trusting in his timing in the moment is the more difficult, but ultimately more important task. I guess what I'm getting at here is the importance of patience and that I'm trying to work on it. Apologies to those who I've been impatient with, forgive me please.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Why not?
As I was reading one of my books for one of my education classes I came across a little anecdote which I would like to share with you all.
"A parent was visiting the classroom of her child and was going to be helping out the teacher for the day. She saw some children trying to take things from the kitchen area, over to the carpeted area to, so that they could play with them over there. Her first instinct was to tell these children that the items in the kitchen area were meant to be played with in the kitchen area. However the classroom teacher stopped her and explained to her that it was her philosophy to first think why not? why should this activity or action be restricted? if she cannot come up with a good reason, she puts her reservations on hold for now"
I was reading this, I couldn't help but feel as though this would be a great thing to apply to a number of areas in our life. For example, if you're friends want you to do something silly (like say, chase each other across campus dressed as a monkey and a banana for example) and you cannot think of a good reason for why not, then do it! You only live once, and sometimes you need to do silly things in life, just because. It helps keep life interesting.
Of course this shouldn't only be applied to silly things, it can be applied to many different aspects of life. Such as trying a food that you have never tried before, or attempting an activity, or even dating. I know I'm definitely guilty on the not trying foods part, even though I have no good reason as to why I wont try it.
I'd like to think at the end of the day, I'll take my own advice. However like many things in my life, I struggle with it.
"A parent was visiting the classroom of her child and was going to be helping out the teacher for the day. She saw some children trying to take things from the kitchen area, over to the carpeted area to, so that they could play with them over there. Her first instinct was to tell these children that the items in the kitchen area were meant to be played with in the kitchen area. However the classroom teacher stopped her and explained to her that it was her philosophy to first think why not? why should this activity or action be restricted? if she cannot come up with a good reason, she puts her reservations on hold for now"
I was reading this, I couldn't help but feel as though this would be a great thing to apply to a number of areas in our life. For example, if you're friends want you to do something silly (like say, chase each other across campus dressed as a monkey and a banana for example) and you cannot think of a good reason for why not, then do it! You only live once, and sometimes you need to do silly things in life, just because. It helps keep life interesting.
Of course this shouldn't only be applied to silly things, it can be applied to many different aspects of life. Such as trying a food that you have never tried before, or attempting an activity, or even dating. I know I'm definitely guilty on the not trying foods part, even though I have no good reason as to why I wont try it.
I'd like to think at the end of the day, I'll take my own advice. However like many things in my life, I struggle with it.
Friday, February 3, 2012
Their world.
I spent the day in my Kindergarten classroom today. It was the first time I had been back since we left Shippensburg for winter break. I was a little nervous in coming back. I was worried the kids wouldn't remember me, or they would be mad at me for leaving. My worries vanished the instant that I set foot into the classroom, as I was greeted by the familiar hugs and exclamations of the children.
This got me thinking about how much simpler the world is through the eyes of a Kindergartener. In their world, there aren't many problems that have a more difficult solution than simply listening to what they have to say. As long as you listen to what they have to say, let them tell you their secrets and help them out with things that they need help with, they love you unconditionally. Why can't we be more like them?
I was also given an example of the extreme honesty that only Kindergarteners possess. While I was attempting to help out the classroom teacher in getting ready for a project they would be doing next week, one of the students came up to me and asked me if I had gotten a haircut(which I had gotten over break). I told her that I had and thanked her for noticing. She looked right at me and said "it looks weird." She didn't say this to be mean, and there was no malevolent intent behind the words, she was simply making an observation as only kindergarteners can do. I couldn't help but laugh, hey maybe it does look funny.
I also got to be there for the magical experience that is Recess. This was by far my favorite part of school growing up, and something that these kids go absolutely crazy for. There is no greater motivator for getting work done, than Recess. As I watched the kids play(and was even roped into a couple of games of duck duck goose) I wondered what ever happened to Recess. I think we adults should have Recess. I don't mean to say we should all go outside and play on a playground(although I'm not discouraging the idea either) I simply mean that we should take 20-30 minutes of the day where we don't stress about things that need to be done. We stop worrying about homework, or tests, or the other challenges of life and simply "play."
I think this is a large part of the reason as to why I want to be a Kindergarten teacher. It's partly because I enjoy being around young children, and I do want to help them to learn and grow. However my true reasons are much more selfish than that. I want to be a teacher because when you're in the classroom with those kids, all of the worries and problems of the world go away. For me, being in the classroom is my "play." It helps me to put things into perspective. Their world is a much simpler place, and it's a place that I'd like to spend the rest of my life....even if at the end of the day those problems will always be back.
This got me thinking about how much simpler the world is through the eyes of a Kindergartener. In their world, there aren't many problems that have a more difficult solution than simply listening to what they have to say. As long as you listen to what they have to say, let them tell you their secrets and help them out with things that they need help with, they love you unconditionally. Why can't we be more like them?
I was also given an example of the extreme honesty that only Kindergarteners possess. While I was attempting to help out the classroom teacher in getting ready for a project they would be doing next week, one of the students came up to me and asked me if I had gotten a haircut(which I had gotten over break). I told her that I had and thanked her for noticing. She looked right at me and said "it looks weird." She didn't say this to be mean, and there was no malevolent intent behind the words, she was simply making an observation as only kindergarteners can do. I couldn't help but laugh, hey maybe it does look funny.
I also got to be there for the magical experience that is Recess. This was by far my favorite part of school growing up, and something that these kids go absolutely crazy for. There is no greater motivator for getting work done, than Recess. As I watched the kids play(and was even roped into a couple of games of duck duck goose) I wondered what ever happened to Recess. I think we adults should have Recess. I don't mean to say we should all go outside and play on a playground(although I'm not discouraging the idea either) I simply mean that we should take 20-30 minutes of the day where we don't stress about things that need to be done. We stop worrying about homework, or tests, or the other challenges of life and simply "play."
I think this is a large part of the reason as to why I want to be a Kindergarten teacher. It's partly because I enjoy being around young children, and I do want to help them to learn and grow. However my true reasons are much more selfish than that. I want to be a teacher because when you're in the classroom with those kids, all of the worries and problems of the world go away. For me, being in the classroom is my "play." It helps me to put things into perspective. Their world is a much simpler place, and it's a place that I'd like to spend the rest of my life....even if at the end of the day those problems will always be back.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Easy
I am still undecided as to whether or not I will even post this entry, or any to come after this one. The thought of leaving my thoughts out here on the internet for people to read and judge is actually slightly terrifying for me. What if they think I'm weird, what if people start to look at me differently because of the way I think or the things that I am writing. There's no easy answer to any of these questions, just as there is no easy answer for anything in life that truly terrifies us.
I wanted to write this about events in my life that are far from easy. I'm not talking about physical issues, nor am I writing about intellectual roadblocks such as passing a class or understanding a subject. I'm writing about one of the hardest things in life(in my opinion) to manage, emotions and relationships.
Truth be told, I think that life would be a HECK of a lot easier without such things. I hear a lot of people complain about the relationships that they are in, or the things that they have to do for someone else, whether it is getting them a present for a holiday or something much simpler such as grabbing them a drink from the cub. Which leads me to ask the following, If it is so difficult and you hate it so much, why do you choose to be in a relationship in the first place? I think the answer lies in our emotions as well as our need to fit in.
You see, it is human nature to complain about such things, it gives us something to talk about with one another, a way to relate. However that aside, I believe the most important reason we choose to enter into relationships is this; With the right person, everything else in life seems that much sweeter. Yes, life might be a little easier without things such as emotions and relationships, but I don't believe that life would be as worthwhile. I also believe that sometimes we are afraid to try new things because we have grown comfortable with what we know and what's easy. Rather than venture forth into a new relationship, we cling to the old because it's what we've always known.
Nothing in this life that is worth it is easy. Sometimes you must be strong simply because you have no other choice. Letting go is never easy. Sometimes the hardest thing you've ever had to do, is the right thing, even if it means you're not happy with things right now, and sometimes....sometimes putting someones happiness above your own means that that person isn't in your life anymore, but that doesn't mean that you care about them any less, you just want what's best for them. I have never prayed for an easy life, I simply ask for the strength to endure what has been laid before me.
I wanted to write this about events in my life that are far from easy. I'm not talking about physical issues, nor am I writing about intellectual roadblocks such as passing a class or understanding a subject. I'm writing about one of the hardest things in life(in my opinion) to manage, emotions and relationships.
Truth be told, I think that life would be a HECK of a lot easier without such things. I hear a lot of people complain about the relationships that they are in, or the things that they have to do for someone else, whether it is getting them a present for a holiday or something much simpler such as grabbing them a drink from the cub. Which leads me to ask the following, If it is so difficult and you hate it so much, why do you choose to be in a relationship in the first place? I think the answer lies in our emotions as well as our need to fit in.
You see, it is human nature to complain about such things, it gives us something to talk about with one another, a way to relate. However that aside, I believe the most important reason we choose to enter into relationships is this; With the right person, everything else in life seems that much sweeter. Yes, life might be a little easier without things such as emotions and relationships, but I don't believe that life would be as worthwhile. I also believe that sometimes we are afraid to try new things because we have grown comfortable with what we know and what's easy. Rather than venture forth into a new relationship, we cling to the old because it's what we've always known.
Nothing in this life that is worth it is easy. Sometimes you must be strong simply because you have no other choice. Letting go is never easy. Sometimes the hardest thing you've ever had to do, is the right thing, even if it means you're not happy with things right now, and sometimes....sometimes putting someones happiness above your own means that that person isn't in your life anymore, but that doesn't mean that you care about them any less, you just want what's best for them. I have never prayed for an easy life, I simply ask for the strength to endure what has been laid before me.
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