Another Affirmation

Another affirmation from Heal Your Life:

I release all feelings of worry and guilt.

Throughout life, the two most futile emotions are guilt for what has been done and worry about what might be done.

What Else Am I Going To Have To Teach At Home?

Some people belive that cursive is still part of the school curriculum.  From the Toronto Star:

It was always my understanding that the “examples” provided at any grade level for any specific learning expectation were based on what students should be able to do at that particular grade level.  

On page 72 of the current Ontario Ministry Policy document for Language Arts the example provided for Grade 3 Expectation 3.7 says (e.g. use legible printing and some cursive writing, etc.) it is incumbent on teachers to make sure that students are able to do all of the examples provided.  

Teachers are required to assess students’ knowledge and skills and provide instruction and practice so that students can acquire and master them. Cursive writing is included in every 3.7 learning expectation from Grades 3 through Grade 8 in the Ontario Language Arts policy document. 

There is definitely an expectation that cursive writing be taught in Ontario schools. Cursive writing was used as an example rather than as a separate learning expectation to underscore the need for students to master a range of ways to communicate including the use of technology.

Read more.

Interestingly enough, I've yet to find a teacher who interprets the text as it's explained above. 

*sigh*

Today I Took A (small) Stand

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Today

From Heal You Life:

Today I will tell myself that who I am is okay, and that what I'm doing is good enough. Of course I make mistakes and get off-track sometimes, but that doesn't mean that I'm not as good as everyone else. No one is perfect, and that's just fine.

- Melody Beattie

Powerful Affirmation

Found at Heal Your Life.

I forgive myself for not being perfect. I am living the very best way I know how.

- Louise L. Hay

The Little Things

Taking a walk and pausing at an intersection, waiting for the light to turn. 

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Noticing a fire truck (lights and sirens off) coming your way. 

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Saying to wM, "Wave at the firefighters as they go by."

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Hearing the reply, "Seriously?"

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Me waving anyway.

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Having a half-dozen smiling firefighters wave back as they pass. 

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wM compelled to return their friendly gesture.

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Me responding to wM, "Seriously."

= 2 big smiles

Regrets Of The Dying and an Epipheny of Sorts

Beyond the Opposites has a post up about the Top Five Regrets of the Dying.  All of them are things about which I'm trying to be mindful, but number five surprised me.

"I wish that I had let myself be happier."

The double-surprise for me, is that I'm currently skimming my way through Lynn Grabhorn's book, "Excues Me, Your Life Is Waiting," which also suggests that I'd be happier if I got out of my own way.

And then it hit me.

For years, I've been taking classes which all inevitably draw my attention to my breath.  The various instructors have encouraged me to breathe into my abdomen.

And for years, I've consciously worked on forcing that to happen.  Muscling the breath to where it should be going.

Recently, it occurred to me:  I'm not supposed to be forcing the breath there, I'm supposed to be relaxing enough to LET the breath go there.  I'm supposed to relax so that I'm not stopping it from going where it naturally is supposed to go.

For now I will start with getting out of my own way for my breath.  When I master that, I need to figure out how to scale that to the rest of my life.