Turn Yourself Around

[Ladybug--7-3-12]

Show up each precious day with a positive attitude & be open to all its possibilities.  You are worth all the good things waiting for you.  You just are ...

Teachers come in all ages ... a reminder of this came from a 2nd grade elementary girl . . . Emma.  I volunteered in her classroom until Covid shut the school district down in mid March.  It was the first & only time I had the opportunity to mentor/work with her (but she was the first one who gave me a welcome hug on my Day One).   She taught me as I taught her.  

She came to school disgruntled not wanting to be there & clearly not interested in being “schooled” that day.  She had been told to quit playing a game on the computer by her Mom & to hurry up/get ready for school.  She was resentful, angry, and defiant when her teacher asked me to work with her on the current class assignment (but thankfully happy to be picked for one-on-one time).  

I understood her feeling.  I didn’t necessarily want to come to school that day either (lol). The office computer check-in kiosk even asked if I wanted to be there with the risk of Covid a reality in the school (this was the day before the school shut down).  After listening to her grievances we began her assignment of 3 different tasks.

(It was always important to me to check in & listen to the “kidlets” first with anything they wanted to share ... to really  “see them” before I began any task with them.  What’s more important than teaching the mechanics of how Velcro straps work on new shoes so Mark didn’t continue to step out of them OR to research interesting facts about ducks for Jeff who was enthralled with them OR to listen to Alan learning to adapt to new “step siblings” in his home.  Anything & everything these amazing kids chose to bring up was worth my time & attention.  If it was important to them it was to me too.)   

Emma quickly went from not wanting to come to school or doing any work to expressing her pleasure at “getting” the tasks & excited to do them.  Not only for the task accomplishment but for “turning herself around” she earned my accolades & a star awarded by me (a purple one she picked as her favorite color from my personal stash) which I pasted onto the back of her hand.  

Walking her back to her classroom she proudly handed her teacher her completed assignment and thrust her hand out to show off her star while talking animatedly of how & why she earned it.

It doesn’t matter how old we get . . . positive self-talk,  demonstrated appreciation by others, & actually being “seen” & “heard” is vital for every human being.  This is especially important when we are trying to quit smoking (or stay quit).  Put together a list of positive affirmations that speak to you & say them often.  Ban negative self-talk thinking & speech from your universe (& negative people as much as you can).  Keep a good attitude.  Share your milestones.  Share your hurdles.  Be seen here.  Say what you need.  This place can be a safe haven for you.  

You can do this quitting & stay quit “thing”.  It is within your power & grasp.  Believe it.  Reach out & grab onto it!  Hang on for dear life if that’s what it takes for you ... do you ... no judgement.  It will all be worth it.  I promise.  Best Wishes.