Little wonders...

This is going to be short and to the point. It might be time to appreciate the little things in life, to appreciate those small wonders. Those simple moments when life is just good. There is a song by Rob Thomas that I just love called "Little Wonders" and it made me think of life and inspired me (as music usually does). **See lyrics below. 

My little wonder today was when I realized that being a teacher is full of little wonders. 

Tonight, a student of mine had her last home volleyball game and it was Senior Night. At the game each senior has a little bio about their time...and she mentioned that I was in hers- which might be akward because I was the one reading the bios. I thought nothing of it..but as I read it (and admittedly got a little choked up I realized that if she really felt this way...then my job was worth all the stress. 

Here is what she said " Ms. Lamb, it's impossible to accurately say how much you mean to me and to thank you for all you've done for me. You keep me focused, you keep pushing me to do better, and are always there for me when I need to vent. We laugh, cry and complain together and this relationship means the world to me." i love my Doopaloop. 

So I guess what I am saying is let it go, let everything bad go. Realize that you impact someone's life, that you make the world a better place. Realize that you are amazing and that the little wonders life has to offer, the small moments, the best friends, the unexpected friend...they are make this world worth living. 

With hope, love and faith,

Karen

Let it go,
Let it roll right off your shoulder
Don't you know
The hardest part is over
Let it in,
Let your clarity define you
In the end
We will only just remember how it feels

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

Let it slide,
Let your troubles fall behind you
Let it shine
Until you feel it all around you
And i don't mind
If it's me you need to turn to
We'll get by,
It's the heart that really matters in the end

Our lives are made
In these small hours
These little wonders,
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away,
But these small hours,
These small hours still remain

All of my regret
Will wash away some how
But i can not forget
The way i feel right now

In these small hours
These little wonders
These twists & turns of fate
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away but these small hours
These small hours, still remain,
Still remain
These little wonders
These twists & turns of fate
Time falls away
But these small hours
These little wonders still remain

A certain something, certain.

A student recently said to me, "I truly believe that I can't do this, I just can't". This moment brought tears to my eyes as they expressed a feeling I was all to familiar with. 


I have a question. Why is it so easy to believe in others and not yourself? When it comes to faith, I have more than I can say in those around me. I have an amazing group of friends and family. Even when they disappoint me, I never seem to lose faith in them. In a fight with a friend once she accused me of having too high of expectations of others; she thought I expected too much from my friends. Could this be true? My only statement back (and something that I am not sure I should be proud of) is that I know my friends aren't mediocre, so why would I accept anything less from them and their actions. Sounds high and mighty, huh? Maybe it is, but it comes from the true belief that I know the greatest people on the planet. I don't expect perfection, just that they are good people or at least trying to be. I struggle with perfection myself, because I can't stand to let anyone down. I have this gift of being able to pick out the flaws in the things I do rather than see any value...it is just what I do. This is not something that I am complaining about...I have accepted it. Though I am sure it is still something that is annoying to my friends and family. I will say that I am fully aware of the stress these expectations have on my life. This might just be the first time that I wanted to believe in myself as much as those around me do. I can't promise that I will change overnight, or even that I will be successful...but then again that is okay because, I am not perfect. Where did this come from? Someone challenged me.." Believe in yourself, there is a reason why we do what we do, because people believe in us." A serious challenge...and if they are going to try then so can I (which shows the other flaw: my competitive nature). This person, lately, gets to see flaws that I am not very proud of  OR anything I would normally share and it doesn't seem to matter. Which shows me that even when I am at my worst and afraid I can't pick myself up...someone else believes that I can. 


This all makes me think of this song (which always happens)  and the lyrics read:
"We stumble into our lives:
Reach for a hand to hold.
And any wonder
We need to find
A certain something, certain.

Turn out the light
And what are you left with?
Open up my hands
And find out they're empty.
Press my face to the ground
I've gotta find a reason.
Just scratching around
For something to believe in:
Something to believe in."

So, I told that student, "I am going to believe in your until you believe for yourself. I will make you see that you were wrong. I believe you can do this."  They smiled and a day later came to thank me for believing. 


My challenge to you is also to believe in yourself. But also to believe in someone else, because when we start to doubt...a hand that reaches out to help can fix our ability to believe in ourselves. 




Oh, and thanks again to all my friends especially those who write me before an extraordinarily hard week and say, "This week will fly by. You’re the one for the job, so take a deep breath, sit back, and let it all happen."




Feeling blessed...


Lamb

'I get by with a little help from my friends...'

The last month has been ... interesting. Filled with many unexpected and stressful events. For those who know me, I will admit that things like this normally consume me...I tend to not sleep and be grumpy, even a little anti-social. Then the other day I was listening to music and got inspiration to get out of my funk. I love all types of music (well most) and there are days that it really speaks to me. It only took one line from the 'Beatles' - "I get by with a little help from my friends" to make me realize the riches that I have. 


I have such an amazing group of friends who come from all kinds of places and that I have met through all different avenues. 
I have this friend who I have know for almost 15 years and even I don't get to talk to them as often anymore it feels like we pick up right where we left off every single time. I also know that they get me and my history. They continually support and there is this unspoken bond between us. 
I have this other friend that I have known for a long time but haven't always been friends with. I couldn't really tell you why we weren't friends before, just the way things were I guess, but it suddenly feels like I don't know what I would do without them. They feel like a long lost family member I have always needed. 
There is this other friend who came out of left field and teaches me lessons everyday. They make me think for making them think (;o)) It is like our unexpected friendship was destiny because we both needed each other at the same time. 
I have this other friends who is a constant inspiration of positivity. They are continually genuine and kind...nothing ever changes it. Sure, they get frustrated but it never changes how they view this world in such a beautiful way. 
I have this other friend who when reading this will write me a small e-mail reassuring me in anything I have. They constantly support...and even when I am not the best to them - they never stop reassuring. 
I have another friend who so wisely instills their wisdom on my every day. Never afraid to send a stern message to relax and to enjoy life. They even wrote me an e-mail that I open up whenever I am feeling down...a short poem that makes me see things a little differently. 


The common thread through these people is that they believe in me continually. I am not even sure how I deserve this support but I definitely don't want to take it for granted. I want all my friends to know that I don't know what I would do without you. You are fun and smart...I know one great thing that I have done in my life is that I have surrounded myself with some of the most amazing people the world has to offer. 


I challenge each and every one of you to tell your friend, right now, that you love them and appreciate them. 


Without them...how else would you get by? 

a moment to refine...

I was listening to Pandora radio the other day and a song came on that I had never heard before. It had a line in it that made me think ...."I guess were all one phone call from our knees". The line struck me as strangely familiar because lately phone calls have not been great. I have become fond of the art of text messaging, you can read it without any sort of embarrassment from the emotional reaction you can give. Plus, there are times that reading something makes it seem less real than when you hear it from someones voice.

I find myself continually focusing on the negative, even though I don't consider myself a negative person. I also focus on the things i can't change rather than the things I can, even though i consider myself a pretty logical person.

It struck me today when a dear friend said something really nice to me. He told me I was one of the greatest people he knew and then immediately reassured me that he wasn't 'blowing smoke', which struck me that he knew me better than I thought. It also made me think that maybe people know that about me, that I need immediate reassurance because I tend to doubt myself.

My question...how do you change that? It has to be more than a promise to your facebook status to look through life with a different view, it has to have more action, more guarantee. I could write it, I could tell someone but it has to involve doing. I want to take action, control and responsibility for my life. I don't want to be the dramatic head case that people feel they can't talk to. Not that person who cries at the drop of a hat or brings drama to every conversation. I want to be someone people want around in more ways than one. I guess before that can even happen I need to believe that it is true. Believe what people tell me, good or bad, and take it to heart. Especially when they are people I trust and cherish.

So as far as the song goes, "She got a call today, one out of the grey. And when the smoke cleared, it took her breath away. I couldn't believe, that this could happen to me. I guess were all one phone call from our knees." I think the thing that is missing is that every call that makes us fall is an opportunity to pick ourselves back up, dust ourselves off and appreciate what we have, who we are...and maybe just leave a little room to refine.

All the best.... Lamb

(PS... Thanks E!)

The Eternal Monday

I started to think this Sunday about the many things that I promise myself on Sunday nights...always saying that I will begin Monday. Monday feels like a good day to 'start' something. Part of it is that I am a planner...and when things are not planned I don't feel entirely comfortable about them. So I did want to start this Sunday night by trying to hold true to one of those goals which is to actually blog. It sounds lame...and if you are reading this looking for some profound truth, you -probably won't find it. It is however, a way to get thoughts off my mind, out into the world and maybe make you laugh (at or with me) or cry or something. In order to get some inspiration I started listening to some music. I happened to find Van Morrison on the internet and began listening to into the mystic which I always love. it is one of those songs that makes you want to trust in life and float into the unknown.

I am going to try to carry that attitide through this new school year. I don't know what is coming but I am excited for the new year and I am just going to sail into the unknown. I am going to do my best to learn about life, learn about myself, become a better teacher, a better friend, a better person and be happy and fulfilled. I am going to learn not to sweat the small stuff, read more, laugh more, cry less and smile even when I don't feel like it.

One of the greatest things about being a teacher is that each year you get to start fresh. You get to trash the things that didn't work, revamp the things that needed refining, leave the things that seemed to be amazing. You get to inspire more and learn more and teach more. You get to try again and try new things. It is pretty amazing.

Happy 2009-2010 school year to all. Parents, teachers, students and everyone no matter how you fit in. Oh, and here is to a happy Monday. Because I believe instead of hoping for a new beginning just living each day, including Monday, to fullest will be a good way to spend time. Also, start goals whenever I can...not matter the day!

Karen

Leadership means Selflessness...

Recently at CADA camp the adviser's council spoke on selflessness and here is what we said...

Our word is selflessness. It is something that as advisers we believe is vital but also something that we are continually happy and impressed to see in all of our students every day.

Leadership is about what is best for the school - not the individual. It is about a place to put your pride aside and realize that the individual doesn't come first, the whole group does. Leadership is about making a personal connection to all kinds of people no matter what background. This connection comes from masking activities that fit all kinds of different people. If you make Leadership all about you, they won't respect you but if you make it about them, they will. Remember you have to serve before you lead, you have to give rather than take, you have to make it inclusive instead of exclusive. Selflessness in Leadership means knowing you have done the right thing in your heart and mind, with no need for gratitude or reward.

The beauty of selflessness is that even though it seems it is always about others, it comes full circle and benefits you. It helps you continually grow to be a better person...

Because like Ghandi said "The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others".

All my faith,

Karen

A week to remember...

About a month ago I decided to delete my previous blog. It wasn't all that impressive to anyone including myself and it began to become an electronic version of my journal that I ended up only updating every few months. When I deleted it I decided I wasn't going to start again until something had happened that inspired or moved me. Since that past 10 days did that I thought this was a perfect time...

It started with another amazing trip to CADA CAMP at the University of Santa Barbara, California. More kids, different advisers and one assistant principal could have proved to create a different dynamic, which it did, but that dynamic was nothing short of amazing.

Then I was back for one day (which I slept through most of) in order to recuperate.

Then I left for camping at Twin Lakes until Sunday. (Camping would be interesting for Lamb since I take 2 showers a day, hate to be dirty, enjoy AC all to much, love my iPhone, and haven't been camping in 5 or 6 years).

Over these trips I have come to many realizations I would like to share with you:

1. Ralphy the dog is loved by all (and it also turns out he is a good camper).

2. Silent football needs to be played in the light.

3. Being a Polar Bear is awesome (even if it happens in the garage when you have returned home and are unloading the truck).

4. The Riekers are geniuses (record Polar Bear time).

5. Every campsite needs a shady out cove for naps.

6. Camping food can be better than what I make at home.

7. Edward is still the best.

8. Teenagers are amazing...they can drive you crazy but they are smart, funny, courageous, sensible, patient, kind and driven....I love my job.

9. Joe, who I consider one of my best friends, is the perfect CADA partner.

10. People are capable of doing anything. They just have to put themselves out there and try something new.

11. A mistake is only an error if you choose not to learn from it.

12. Jill has convinced me that are in fact things that are funny because they are not.

13. Paula is the most graceful athlete I have ever met and this includes rope swings into lakes.

14. Many different people can pull off the same bikini top.

15. If you ever get to pick your last meal, you should choose every course and make it interesting.

16. Ralphy is a dog, margarita is a drink. No wait...

17. The bottom of the shower is a badge of honor when returning from camping...because it is dirty.

18. The best thing about being gone for 10 days is that your bed seems all the more comfortable and your DVR has many things to watch.

19. Quotes from Will Ferrell movies (especially Anchorman) are always great crowd pleasers.

20. I have a feeling that sometime in the future there will be a dog rescue ranch, where ESPN is taped, a kick ass coffee house exists, a floral shop exists, where we have our own on site firefighters, someone who handles all of our investments, that has a lake that we can sail on, where some people only lived when they weren't traveling for the peace corp.
it will be called Warrpclraff (figure that one out).

*** BONUS... my friends are the most amazing people you have ever met, no question. I love them all dearly and love the fun times together.

Thank you so much for calling on my Mr. Commissioner Sir...

Lamb