Take a Sabbatical.

I want to share with you something that I love to do. Nearly every week, I take time to pause for almost 24 hours. I shut down the computer, and I stop working. I eat great meals and relax either with family and friends, or alone. It’s my personal “fill-up” time.

Everyone needs some personal fill-up time. Call it a weekly Sabbatical, a time to just pause and relax. I hope you will look forward to it as much as I do. You deserve to relax and fill back up after a busy week.

You are a difference maker.

Have a great day and a wonderful week-end.

Maryln

We can’t always understand.

Last year I lit a candle in memory of my mom on the anniversary of her passing away. It was a little battery operated candle that was supposed to stay lit for 24 to 36 hours. Instead it stayed lit for 7 weeks. Last week it was once again the anniversary of my mom’s passing away, so I lit a new battery-operated 24 hour candle. Once again the little candle keeps flickering. It has been over a week now. The candle for me is a constant reminder that there are things we cannot understand, but these things can give each of us so much hope. That little candle makes me smile every time I look at it, and I picture the huge smile on my mom’s face whenever she would see me. That candle is a gift for me.

I hope that my sharing my little candle story is a reminder for you of hope, the blessings around you, and even more, the hope you give to children.

Have a great day.

Maryln

Pride lasts longer than pain.

Today’s message is inspired by my son Marty. On Sunday, Marty, ran his 17th marathon. He had trained for it for a long time, and he was completely ready to run 26.2 miles. The weather cooperated beautifully by being just right for running.

Our family always goes to watch him. This year he ran with a friend who was at his side. The two of them encouraged each other. We have 5 places we stop along the route with our signs to cheer him on. This time, only 2 miles into the race, he started hurting. He suffered “charley horses” in both legs, but he kept running. Later he felt nauseated, but he kept running. The pain continued, and he reached the point where he had to alternate walking with running, and yet he kept going. He crossed the finish line with a big smile on his face. We were so grateful to see that he was okay when it was over because we knew that he was in pain, and we had been praying for him.

When we got in the car, he said to us, “Pride lasts longer than pain.” He was proud of himself that he had finished in spite of the pain, and so were we. His friend who ran alongside of him was a constant source of encouragement. Together, they made it through. Go to our web site at http://www.atiseminars.org/mara to see a video of Marty and his friend, Stuart Levit, crossing the finish line. Marty is wearing black shorts, sun glasses, a white tank top, and is toward the right side of the screen. His friend is to his right in blue shorts and tank top. You can also see a photo of our family at the end of the marathon by clicking here.

It made me think about your work every day. Some days are tough, but you just keep going. Some kids are tough, but you keep going. Your pride in the important work you do, overcomes any short-term pain. That’s what teaching is about, staying focused on long-term goals, and taking pride in the difference you make. I hope you have friends who are at your side and encourage you, especially on those tougher days just like my son had, people who believe in you. You are not alone. Just as there were thousands of runners in that marathon, there are millions of you, out there making a difference. So keep on keeping on. You are a difference maker.

Have a great day.

Maryln

One million acts of kindness

I recently read a very inspirational article about a man, Bob Votruba, who is traveling all over the US promoting kindness. His goal is to do a million acts of kindness and to have other people do it too. He performs simple acts, from smiling to picking up trash. It takes 50 acts of kindness a day for 55 years to reach 1 million kindnesses.

What a great thing to teach children. It would be neat if you had a Kindness Box, and every time students do something kind for others, they put a paper clip in the box. Your goal is to not only fill the box, but to fill many boxes.

Have an awesome day. You are a difference maker.

Maryln

I have a dream.

* Martin Luther King said these powerful words, “I have a dream.” I too have a dream.

I dream of the day when teachers will be acknowledge, honored, and respected for the key roles they play in building the future. I dream of the day when parents will look at you who work with children and realize how important your work and your influence are in the lives of their children. They will respect you and want to work together as a team on behalf of their children.

I dream of the day when lawmakers will respect you, the work you do and the difference you make in the lives of children, and hear your collective voice before making decisions that influence your lives and the lives of children. I dream of the day when the corporate world will acknowledge you for the key role you play in preparing their future employees.

I dream of the day when you will walk inside a room filled with people and when someone says, “What do you do,” you respond, “I’m a teacher,” and they will applaud you and thank you for the important work you do. I dream of the day when students will come into your schools and classrooms with newfound respect passed on from their families and salute you as a huge difference-maker in their lives.

Thank you Martin Luther King. Your words inspired us to dream, too. You inspired us to dream about the future as we build a better world for children.

Have a great day and a wonderful week.

* I have sent this message several years in a row. I pray for the day that this dream comes true.

Maryln