The Weight and Burdens of Life’s Stresses

Before you start to read this, I want to make sure that you know that I didn’t write it…stole it word for word from Daveswordsofwisdom.com.

A psychologist walked around a room while teaching stress management to an audience. As she raised a glass of water, everyone expected they’d be asked the “half-empty or half-full” question. Instead, with a smile on her face, she inquired, “How heavy is this glass of water?”

Answers called out ranged from 8 oz. to 20 oz.

She replied, “The absolute weight doesn’t matter. It depends on how long I hold it. If I hold it for a minute, it’s not a problem. If I hold it for an hour, I’ll have an ache in my arm. If I hold it for a day, my arm will feel numb and paralyzed. In each case, the weight of the glass doesn’t change, but the longer I hold it, the heavier it becomes.”

She continued, “The stresses and worries in life are like that glass of water. Think about them for awhile and nothing happens. Think about them a bit longer and they begin to hurt. And if you think about them all day long, you will feel paralyzed – incapable of doing anything.”

It’s important to remember to let go of your stresses. As early in the evening as you can, put all your burdens down. Don’t carry them through the evening and into the night.

Remember to put the glass down!

I don’t know about you, but I need to start putting that glass down as soon as I get home every day!

TEACH

Did any of you watch the special on CBS on Friday night called TEACH?  It was hosted by Queen Latifeh and I was so glad to see that this was not a “bash public schools” program like we’ve seen so much lately.

I found it interesting that the four teachers featured did not have all the answered.  All four teachers had low-performing students and all levels were represented.  They experienced success and then there was lots of backsliding.  Parts of the program were very sad.

Thank goodness, these teachers took responsibility for their students’ failures.  I loved seeing the deep compassion and caring all these teachers felt for their students.  How many times have you cried (or at least had a big lump in your throat) over a child because you could see what he/she could be and didn’t know how to get them to discover that truth?

One teacher experienced some significant success with an approach called “360 Math.”  Developed by Kahn Academy, the teacher engaged in a very no traditional approach to teaching.  Lots of self-directed learning, critical thinking, problem-solving, higher order thinking occurred.

Loved the theme:

what if a job could inspire?

what if a job could change a life?

what if a job could change your life?

TEACH!

that’s what you do…aren’t you proud?

if you saw the program, what did you think?