Singing in the Car

A few weeks ago I made a resolution to dance more.  Something I did as a 10-year-old that made me happy, I resolved to try to start dancing around the house again.  I've been doing pretty well.  I dance at home and even sometimes at work.  But some days there just isn't enough time.  I wake up too late or run around too much.  On days like that I try to make sure I sing in the car.  While I don't find it quite as fun because I know what a horrible singer I am, it does help a little.  My life theme song as of late has been "Waka Waka (This Time For Africa)" by Shakira.  I love the lyrics and the beat.  It helps motivate me to stay positive and happy.  It also gets stuck in my head so that when times get rough at work (just as an example), it's there to move me along.  Take a listen!  It's either going to make you smile or drive you crazy... which might make me smile!

You're a good soldier

Choosing your battles

Pick yourself up

And dust yourself off

And back in the saddle

You're on the frontline

Everyone's watching

You know it's serious

We're getting closer

This isnt over

The pressure's on

You feel it

But you've got it all

Believe it

When you fall get up

Oh oh...

And if you fall get up

Ay ay...

Tsamina mina

Zangalewa

Cause this is Africa

Tsamina mina eh eh

Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

Anawa aa

This time for Africa

Listen to your god

This is our motto

Your time to shine

Dont wait in line

Y vamos por Todo

People are raising

Their expectations

Go on and feed them

This is your moment

No hesitations

Today's your day

I feel it

You paved the way

Believe it

If you get down

Get up Oh oh...

When you get down

Get up eh eh...

Tsamina mina zangalewa

Anawa aa

This time for Africa

Tsamina mina eh eh

Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

Anawa aa

Tsamina mina eh eh

Waka Waka eh eh

Tsamina mina zangalewa

This time for Africa

The Happiness Project 2011 Challenge Video: Who Is My Spiritual Master?

So, the challenge this week for “The Happiness Project” is to imitate your spiritual master.

Well! I’m one of those Easter-Christmas Church-Goers, so I guess it’s obvious that Jesus Christ is not my spiritual master. I know very little about Ghandi and Mother Teresa. And I haven’t read The Tao of Pooh since college. For a second, I thought I was going to have to forego this challenge. Thankfully, Gretchen Rubinn’s weekly video gave me some clarity and I was able to make my decision almost immediately. When choosing your spiritual master, she said to ask yourself:

“What is it about this person that’s resonating with me? What is it about their teaching that makes me want to learn more about them?”

Rubinn goes on to say that for a long time her spiritual master was Winston Churchill, someone whom she became so interested in that she read many books about him and even received a Chruchill figurine for her birthday. So, who is my spiritual master? I’m surprised I didn’t think of her immediately. (I suppose the word “spiritual” threw me off.)

My spiritual master is someone I’ve admire since I was about 10 years old. I was thought she was beautiful and talented. She always appeared graceful and intelligent. She never seemed pretentious or conceited. I’ve always wanted to be like her. Audrey Hepburn has been my “spiritual master” for many years.

At first I was drawn to her for superficial reasons. She was a dancer and a movie star. She was beautiful and had a lovely-sounding accent. When she died, I bought and saved the People Magazine and the Special Edition People Magazine. (I think I still have them, actually.) Reading those magazine articles made me want to read more about her. Not only was she beautiful, she was also generous. She was an actress and philanthropist. And while she was talented, she was also humble and grateful for the life she had. If it was even possible, she became more wonderful in my eye.

As an adult, I came across a beautifully written biography of Hepburn. I was impressed by how she put so many people first, but still managed to take care of and always stick up for herself. I think sometimes I get frustrated trying to do that. Usually I take my frustration out on the people who are there to support me. And, even when I manage to be there for others, I sometimes feel let down if they don’t notice or appear indifferent. She was smart. And she was happy. I think that was what stuck with me most. Even during the down times of her life, she always had positive things to do and say. Sometimes I just get so caught up in the negativity of my surroundings. The people, the news, the never-ending expectations – I get stuck in a funk of sadness, self-pity, frustration, guilt, etc. In other words, you name it, I get stuck there. I know for certain that that is not how I want to go through my life. Hepburn didn’t and neither should I.

Below are some of her most famous quotes, along with a short clip of an interview with her on the Phil Donahue show in 1990. Her elegance, sophistication, happiness and love are contagious. So, I guess this week my goal is to imitate her. Just don’t be surprised if I show up to work in a black dress and pearls.

"For Attractive lips, speak words of kindness.

 For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.

 For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.

 For beautiful hair, let a child run their fingers through it once a day.

 For poise, walk with the knowledge that you never walk alone.

 People, more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed. Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of each of your arms.

 As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself and the other for helping others."

— Audrey Hepburn

"I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."

— Audrey Hepburn

"The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy—it's all that matters."

— Audrey Hepburn

"You can tell more about a person by what he says about others than you can by what others say about him."

— Audrey Hepburn

"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, it's at the end of your arm, as you get older, remember you have another hand: The first is to help yourself, the second is to help others."

— Audrey Hepburn

At the Last Second

Oh.  My.  Goodness.  Today was such a lousy day.  Besides the fact that I didn't feel well all day and my students talked and made strange noises more than they did work,  I'm now sitting here alone with a headache and a reflection paper draft that is due to tomorrow.  I'm finding it highly unlikely that I will finish this paper tonight and will probably have to rush to finish it during my lunch tomorrow.  As my father would say, "That's life!" (to which I would usually grunt and ask to talk to mom).

I had been thinking about my blog all afternoon.  I really wanted to write another post but was truly struggling to find my happy moment for the day.  I was just about to shut down my computer when I decided that I would check my work email one more time, just in case something interesting had popped up in there.  As luck would have it, something had.

A former student of mine likes to check in periodically and did so today.  Not only is she flourishing in her new school, but she's actually taking some of my book suggestions - as in reading AND liking them!  I recently recommended that she read The Disreputable History of Frankie-Landau Banks.  This book is a "young-adult" novel but it's so well written and has such a smart, entertaining plot full of secret societies and girl power that I truly think any female out there (over the age of 13) would enjoy this book.

I was delighted to learn that my former student is loving the book.  It was great to hear her opinion of the characters and story line, so far.  I can't wait for her to keep reading so that I can hear more of what she thinks.  In fact, I think she's inspired me to put my work away for now and read one of my own pleasure-reading books. There's nothing like a great story to make you feel happy and the end of a long, tiring day.

Here's the book she's reading: The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks

And this is the book I'm reading: The Secret History of the Pink Carnation

There's No "I" In TEAM

As if passing one of the country's toughest teacher certification tests isn't enough to prove you've got what it takes to be a teacher,  educators in my state also have to complete a new teacher learning program.  For a while there it was called BEST.  Now it's called TEAM.  I've been working on my TEAM module since September, along with my Master's Program, prepping students for multiple standardized tests and actually teaching.  I learned today that I passed my TEAM module!  Happy day!  Now I can move on with my career and focus more on my students, which is why I entered the occupation in the first place.

A Happy Philosophy

“I never make decisions that angle for advance or grab for money; it’s always about the fun factor, the challenge, the joy of working with people I like and respect.”

-Kristin Chenoweth, A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love, and Faith In Stages

This quote by Kristin Chenoweth is one that stuck with me after reading her memoir two years ago.  I think it’s a great way to make decisions and I try to follow it.  What choice will make me happiest?  With what choice will I have the most fun?  And in terms of working with people whom I like and respect?  Well, I didn’t leave Journalism for Education because I wanted a pay raise. 

And, you have to understand, I’ve adored Chenoweth since I saw her on the Rosie O’Donnell show in 1999 promoting the musical she was currently starring in on Broadway, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.  Performing the role of “Sally” (Charlie Brown’s little sister), dressed in her curly blonde mop of a wig and pink polka-dot dress, she belted on “My New Philosophy” and I ran out to buy the soundtrack.  (It’s since become one of my go-to, get-happy soundtracks.)

I loved her again in the television show Pushing Daisies, on the soundtrack to the Broadway musical Wicked (which I still need to see) and in Glee.  But her role as a happy inspiration in my life came after reading her book.  (And I HIGHLY recommend you read her book.)  See, Chenoweth looks at life in some of the best ways, like her quote mentioned above.  She laughs at herself, at everything, even when life, well, sucks. 

Below is a video of Chenoweth performing “My New Philosophy” at the 1999 Tony Awards, where she was nominated for and won Best Featured Actress in a Musical.  The song, not included in the original Broadway soundtrack, is “a little piece of genius,” according to Chenoweth.  In her book, Chenoweth had the following to say about the song:

      

    Sally is able to marshal all meaning necessary for living her life into a series of       concise axioms:

                     Oh, yeah?  That’s what YOU think.

                     Why are you telling ME?

                     No!

                     I can’t stand it!

   Give it some thought. I defy you to come up with a life circumstance in which one of these doesn’t come in handy.

I completely agree with that.  Maybe that is why I love the song, and the way Chenoweth performs it so much, because when something in life is grinding your gears, at least of one the above retorts could pretty much take care of the whole situation.  Take a look.  Hopefully the song puts a smile on your face too!

Happiness Project 2011: What Did I Do For Fun When I Was 10 Years Old?

What did I do for fun when I was 10 years old?  That is such an easy question.  If I were a student sitting in class right now, I would be bouncing in my seat with my hand in the air making “Oo Oo” noises.   When I was 10 years old and I wanted to have some fun, I would dance in my garage.

My garage wasn’t just any old, regular garage.  My garage was a supped-up, dance garage.  For my birthday, my grandmother bought me a piece of cream-colored, linoleum flooring big enough to cover half of the garage. (Yes, I was very excited about getting a big role of linoleum. Seriously.)  And my parents installed floor-to-ceiling mirrors and a ballet barre.  At first I used a record player and my father’s sound system to play records and cassette tapes.  I made up dances to everything from “Black or White” by Michael Jackson and “Material Girl” by Madonna to “Honey Bun” from South Pacific and “Master of the House” from Les Miserables. 

I would do my ballet warm-ups at the barre: plies, tondues and rondejambes.  I would tap out shuffles, flaps and time steps.  I would spin and jump (though I could never jump very high and would later resort to wearing ankle weights for hours at a time before a performance to try to increase the height of my jumps) and shake my body from the time I finished my homework until dinner.  In the winter I would have to set up a portable standing heater because it was so cold in the garage and dance-time usually ended when mom got home and pulled the car in, instead of having to leave it outside in the snow. 

Sometimes I would make up dances with my friends and sometimes I just danced alone.  In the summer we would put on performances using the entire soundtrack from The Little Mermaid.   The grand finale would involve us jumping in the pool.  (Mermaids have to be in the water, after all.) 

But the older I got, the more self-conscious I became and, when someone opened the garage door to walk through or call me for dinner, I would stop mid-step and wait until the person was gone.  I stopped putting on impromptu performances and only practiced the routines for whatever show I was preparing for at dance class – a recital, a competition, The Nutcracker.  And then, for a while, I didn’t dance anywhere.

I have to say that dancing around the house always made me happy.  I’m not sure my mother appreciated the pirouettes in the kitchen while she was trying to cook, but it gave us both plenty to talk and laugh about.  I wanted to be a professional dancer, but realized at the age of 14 that I was lacking the right amount of talent and had more than enough in the way of poundage.  I know, I know former-classmates, I was never fat!  I just wasn’t skinny enough (nor did I want to be) to go pro. 

Thinking about all the dancing I used to do is making me miss it so much!   Thankfully I have to go make up so dance routines for my school’s dinner theater production.  Hopefully my husband doesn’t mind me spinning in the kitchen while he’s cooking!  Five, six, seven, eight….

Okay,  I am not 10-years-old in this picture.  I'm 16.  But it's the only dance picture I have on my computer at the moment.  I'm second row from the back, third girl from the left.  Yes, that's a tiara on my head.  Tiaras make me happy.  Sometimes I wear one while I clean.