Content

Urban Dictionary definition:
not wanting more or anything else
I am content with what I have.



Contentment is...
-a sleepy puppy on your lap
-a loyal friend
-a good book and a hard cider on a cool May night
-6 days of the school year left
-a compliment about how good you look from a stranger after looking like a mess all day
-giggling with roommates
-finding your phone charger that was missing for 2.5 weeks
-Hebrews 13:5
"Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with
what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I
forsake you."

Happy birthday to me!

Things I want to remember about my 22nd birthday:
When I walked into work today, all three of my co-teachers greeted me with a smile and a "happy birthday!"

Even though it's only the third day back from winter break and we predicted our kids would be stinkers today, they weren't.

During recess, one of my students came up to me and took my hand and said, "Come on, Ms. Boring!" and led me over to the seesaw, where we played for a few minutes. This is the first time he has initiated play with me since starting school almost 4 1/2 months ago.

When it was snack time, all my students scrambled to the snack table and sat eagerly waiting for me because they remembered it was my birthday, and therefore I brought birthday cupcakes.

One of my students talked about me bringing in special birthday cupcakes for snack on Wednesday multiple times since I mentioned it Monday. When it was finally Wednesday and time for cupcakes, I asked if he wanted one, and he said, "No thanks!"

One of my kids sang me a solo rendition of "Happy birthday!" and when he got to the part of "Happy birthday Ms. Boringgggg," he paused and elbowed the kid next to him and growled, "Why aren't you singing to her?!"

A conversation I had with one of my students. "Ms. Boring, are you getting presents for your birthday?" "Why yes, I am getting presents-" "FOR ME????" Hahaha!

My family got me: Community season 1 on dvd, a tool kit, an alphabet card game to use in my classroom, a travel coffee mug, and a donation to WorldVision to help sexually exploited girls in Cambodia. Boy, they really know me!

When I told my students I was turning 22, one turned to the kid next to him and said, "Wow, I can't believe Ms. Boring will be so old!" When my coworkers found out I was turning 22, they turned to each other and said, "Wow, I can't believe she is so young..."

I am excited. I think my twenty-second year of life is going to be an amazing one!

Eat your leftovers

I always anticipate the New Years. I tell myself that sparkling accessories, (imaginary) kisses at midnight with my (unrequited) love, and a multitude of resolutions that fall apart within a matter of weeks into January will definitely be better than last year, of course! Who knows if this year will be any different. But as I sit here typing this, eating leftover stirfry from weeks ago, which doesn't smell like it's gone bad yet, (but who knows? cross your fingers!) I have realized that in addition to cleaning out my fridge, I also need to clean out my life. So I will eat my leftovers; my leftover emotions, my leftover thoughts, my leftover insecurities, my leftover dreams, my leftover relationships, and take some time to stew and digest and then move on. Move on to new, unknown territory, new tastes and flavors.

Because after a while, leftovers lose their appeal, and you can only have them for so long.

Now if you'll excuse me, there is some leftover peppermint ice cream that needs to be taken care of...

Where have you been all my life?

It's been a while. I've been meaning to write, but like an old friend you very nearly fall out of contact with until you receive a random phonecall or a postcard in the mail, I've decided to write again after an unexpected hiatus.

...

And my mind goes completely blank. How do you sum up months, nearly a whole year, in only a few words? Where do I begin? What's important enough to document?

Let's just start anew. I'll plant my stories in a plastic cup, water them every day, and hope they grow into something wondrous.

I'm weird, you're weird, we're all weird now

I am notorious at reading too deeply into simple statements, but this struck me as profound.

I was baby-sitting for a near and dear family for me. Upon returning from a short bike ride to drop off the younger of two brothers to soccer practice, the older brother and I had an extremely brief conversation. It went something like this:

M: *mumbles something about himself being a "stupid-dumb head"*
Beth: Hey, I don't like the sounds of that. You are not a stupid-dumb head!
M: I know, sometimes I say things like that.
Beth: Well, I don't like those words. They aren't true. And I bet your mom doesn't like them either.
M: She doesn't mind.
Beth: If I mentioned to her that you said that, would she be sad?
M: Don't mention it to her, okay? It doesn't mean anything. You don't have to mention it.
Beth: I just don't want you to say those things about yourself. I like your head. I want you to like your head too!
M: Okay... I'm just weird.
Beth: Oh?
M: Yeah. I'm weird. You're weird too. Everyone is weird!
Beth: Yeah, but you know what? Being weird rocks. Let's scream it.. ready? 1, 2, 3-
M & Beth: BEING WEIRD ROCKS!!

What makes this profound is my buddy in this story has Asperger's syndrome. He is a quirky boy, and fitting in isn't always easy. However, strides have been made, society has come a long way. Self-confidence and self-love is a rare find in individuals such as these, and it warms my heart to know that these kinds of children can proudly scream "Being weird rocks!" in place of being a "stupid-dumb head." Having a difference can be isolating, and it's encouraging to know that not only can people cope with this, they can be proud of their differences too.

We still have so far to go, though. However, I do think it's important to celebrate these small steps, for they are significant.

Hahahhahahahhahahhaha.

Life is:
-tragic piano melodies
-communication through language barriers (even though we both speak English)
-making the best with what you have been given
-not being afraid to be different
-chocolate covered bananas
-sing-alongs
-kindness from a stranger at a bowling alley
-not being discouraged when you are the only one in the boat and everyone else is -swimming
-an uplifting gift of a singing toothbrush from a mother
-dancing in the mornings to mix CDs while you wait for the coffee to brew
-understanding 90% of statistics homework
-failing at creative volleyball serves

I'm almost human, after all.