Brains in my Head and Feet in My Shoes

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What a great day!

The weather outside? Frightful. Cold, rainy, miserable, dreary. Occasional sleet. If we lived 15 miles north we would have had snow. It's one of those days that you just want to crawl under the covers with a good book, or sit by the fire and not go anywhere.

So, what did I do today? Student observations - all day long. The longest day of observations I've had in a very, very long time. And I have to admit, I wasn't looking forward to it when the day started.

I walked into the first observation this morning and was pleasantly surprised with what I saw. The student has been struggling somewhat, but today she was prepared, enthusiastic, and reading Dr. Seuss aloud to her kids, since today is his birthday.

I have to say this just made me very happy. First, to see her doing better. But secondly, to hear Dr. Seuss, and be reminded that something so simple can be so beautiful.

After I left her classroom, I posted a "Seussism" on facebook. It just seemed appropriate.

From there I went to another school, and started making my rounds. After awhile, I decided to change my facebook status to another "Seussism," and I continued to do this close to hourly all day.

The day progressed - more observations, lunch with my daughter, a trip to Starbucks when I finished my rounds (since that just sounded good since it was so cold and I only had about 45 minutes before school was out, so going to my office seemed pointless), a stop at the book fair after school, dance practice, band concert, a rushed trip to Wendy's after the concert so we didn't starve, and beginning a new book at dinner that NONE of us have read tonight (thanks to the book fair).

The day itself wasn't phenomenal in many ways - just another day of work and our weekly routine, for the most part.

But today... today... I greatly enjoyed today. There was something about being in an elementary school all day, watching kids, observing students make progress, thinking about Dr. Seuss, even seeing a principal dressed up as The Cat in the Hat [whole 'nuther thought process about that, but that's an aside], going through the Tuesday afternoon routine plus some with my kids that just resonated with me today.

Dr. Seuss was part of it. That man left us so much wisdom in such simple ways:

"Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better. It's not."

"A person's a person, no matter how small."

"If you never did you should. These things are fun and fun is good."

"So be sure when you step, Step with care and great tact. And remember that life's A Great Balancing Act. And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed (98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed)"

Yeah, it's a balancing act, alright. Today was proof positive of that. There are so many more wonderful "Seussisms," but what great reminders he left us. Here's one more:

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose. You're on your own. And you know what you know. And YOU are the one who'll decide where to go..."

I could have gone to dreary/miserable today - to have my mood match the weather. I didn't, though. Today, I was happy. Deep down in the gut happy. Why? Because I chose to see the positives rather than the negatives. To be in touch with simple truths rather than complex frustrations. To see how it is all about the children, whether they are mine or someone else's. To know that what I do and how I do it impacts so many. And in so doing, feel a part of the greater good in this world.

What a great place to go.