So I said I had some ideas, beyond doing some book reviews. Thankful Thursday is one of them.

Because it’s easy (at least for me) to fall into a rut and let the negativity overwhelm, especially right now at the end of the semester when everything (and everyone in the school building) is crazy- when deadlines are looming and there’s just not enough time (and for me, at the moment, not enough paper). When it’s very easy to go to work in the dark and leave with an hour or so of light left in the day.

I do my best every evening to think of five things I’m thankful for from that day. Sometimes it’s really really easy and some days the activity turns into my listing the ways that the day could have been worse. I never write it down- most of the time just calling them to mind while I’m in the shower or before I fall asleep. I thought, perhaps, it would be nice to have a record of those things- well, some of them at least. The highlights of the week, I guess you could say. And so, to start the first Thankful Thursday…

This blog
Is it odd to be thankful for something you’ve created for yourself? Maybe, maybe not. Be that as it may, I’m thankful for the idea and the energy this week to actually carry the idea out. I’m not always that lucky. It’s not every day you get a new way to stretch your creative muscles, and find a new place to play.

An easier week
If there’s one thing that you can predict about teaching, it’s that no day is ever the same. Some days are going to be better than others. And some weeks… and some months… And last week (up til last Thursday) was one of the worst this year. The difference, this week, has been like night and day and it’s been like being able to breathe again after being held under water.

Snow day
Okay, so there’s one more thing that you can (typically) predict about teaching- how welcome a snow day is. As good as the past week has been, comparably, seeing the snow come down and absolutely blanket the ground, knowing the temps are right around freezing- and thus the fact that I could sleep in the next day- absolutely heaven.

Holiday Decorations
I don’t know what it is I like most about holiday decorations. If it’s the lights popping out of the darkness, or the colors, or just the associated memories- like the music box that always sat on top of my parent’s piano, or the trips we always took with my grandparents- just driving around and looking at the lights because neither of them could drive and they lived at the head of their holler. Whatever it is, it’s my favorite part about December.

So how about you? Is there anything this Thursday that you’re particularly thankful for? If so I’d love to hear about it.