Words of Wisdom

"Love, Love, Love.
You Have to Love,
And if you Don't Get Love Right,
You Have To Move On
And Forgive.
And Then You Have To Remember
That You've Forgiven,
Or Else You Can't Move On,
And If You Don't Move On,
You'll Surely End Up...
Bitter."
- From the Book "I Hope You Dance"-

I really liked this quote in this book, that I've always seen in our bedroom, but never picked up to read, then the other day I did and it had a lot of good stuff in it. I liked this particular quote because I know that most people have been in relationships that have ended badly, mostly because the other person was abusive in some way or another. But if when you get out of that relationship, and you can't move on from them, every relationship you have in the future won't work out.

"Hope Takes Never Ceasing
To Be Amazed...
Wearing
Your Soul On Your Sleeve...
Holding
Your Breath, Waiting To Hear
'I Love You, Too...'
Believing
That Tomorrow Could Be Better Than Today...
That You'll Get a Second Chance...
That You'll Make A Difference...
That You'll Matter."
-From the Same Book-

I liked this quote too because I think it's important to hope and dream. Without dreams life would be boring, without hoping, you wouldn't have much to look forward to. I think it's important to always stay positive, and realize that it's not the end of the world (unless it actually is, then you can be negative!), and that life moves on. Having this kind of attitude will make the days go by quicker and happier if you keep dreaming and hoping.

Come and Gone

It's amazing how many people come and go out of our lives. Some make a positive impact, some make a negative one, but they all shape our lives. Some are in our lives for a long time, and some only for a short time. Some are your best friends, some are only acquaintances. Sometimes we're not sure why these people were in our lives till you realize that they made some sort of impact.
I used to have 3 best friends who I could tell anything to. We always had the best time, we were always at each others houses, always talking on the phone, in school. We went everywhere together and did everything together. We all planned to be in each others weddings, live near each other, all those things that girls talk about as they grow up. Today, though none of those girls are really in my life. I talk to them occasionally, and only know what's going on in their lives because of facebook and myspace (as sad as that is!). Sometimes I miss them because I remember what great times we used to have, and I wish that they were still my best friends. But then I realize that we did have great times, 5 years ago, when we were in high school. We're all living in different places now, are into different things, some of us have matured more than others. I realize that these girls were in my life for several years and were my best friends all of those years. I still consider them to be good friends of mine, though some events have made me not want to think of it that way. When I do talk to them, we mostly reminise about old times, and not really about what's going on right now. Who knows where any of us will end up in another 5 years, because I sure didn't think that we'd end up in Alabama, North Carolina, Italy, and Clifton Park 5 years ago. I'm happy that I had these friends when I did, and I'm happy that we had a great time when we did.
It's funny how those girls aren't really in my life anymore, yet girls that I've known since I was 5 are. I usually only see these friends when I go back to NY, and we spend the time reminiscing as well as talking about the present and future. These girls really are true friends, and I'm sure that they'll be in my life for a very long time. I love the friends I have now, and will always remember friends from my past, and who knows who will come into my life in the future or where I'll be. I love the people in my life now, and they have shaped my life in more ways then I probably realize now. We should all be happy for the people who are in our lives, and those who have been in our lives because they all shape who we are today.
So many people have come and gone into and out of my life, and they have all made some kind of impact whether I know it right now or not.

Putting things in Perspective

The other day I had the pleasure of visiting a special ed. classroom of severely disabled students at a local elementary school. I say that this was a pleasure because it really made me realize how lucky most of us are, though we may not realize it. I was placed with this teacher to do my student teaching in the spring. Once I got there, I realized that I would not be able to stay in this classroom because these students don't learn from a lesson plan, like my school is teaching me how to do. Instead, these students are learning how to press a button, how to look at themselves in a mirror, and how to respond when their name is called. One student dropped a crayon, bent down, and picked it up- a skill that took his teacher 3 years to teach him how to do.
I thought about how these children were put into this position; either something their mother did during her pregnancy, or perhaps just bad luck. This revelation kind of threw my karma belief out the window. What did these kids do to deserve this kind of life? They're happy in their own way; like when the teacher took a boy's brace off his feet so he could lay down. He laughed so hard and was so happy to be free of that brace, without it he has no control over his body movement. so he was picked up, and strapped to a cot so he could take a nap without hurting himself or anyone else. These kids' parents will probably never hear them say 'I Love You' or 'Mommy', and that just broke my heart. I couldn't imagine never hearing that from your own child, a person you love unconditionally.
The children in this classroom exist all over the place, and I think it's great that they have a classroom to go to where they can learn some skills, even if it is as simple as pushing a button, and they can be loved all day. It made me realize how lucky I am to be able to do the things I do everyday, without thinking twice about it- like getting out of bed in the morning. Being in this classroom put things in perspective for me, and made me realize not to sweat the small stuff, but be thankful that I have stuff to sweat.