Find Gratitude

I am grateful for Sandee's post last night... please go back a day if you haven't read it.

To be honest, I am feeling under the weather.  Yesterday, I played full-court basketball with a bunch of high school athletes.  Today, I woke up sore and feeling muscles that I haven't felt in years.  It's exam week and since I gave my exam last week, I had no classes to teach so I lingered in bed, feeling tired and a little old.  

At 8:30, I thought of yoga at 9:30 or grading exams, but neither appealed to me in my lethargy. Perhaps, it was the kindness theme :) that suggested I deserved a sleep in - I rarely do anymore. Therefore, I started a documentary on Netflix - Waiting for Superman.  I had wanted to see it a year ago or so when it was in theaters, yet like many movies now - I wait for Netflix. I love going to the movies, but the way life has been so busy... put me in a dark theater... it becomes a $10 nap.  

So it wasn't surprising when my underused Netflix account had the same somniferous effect.  Before falling asleep, however, I realized two things: I gained a better understanding of how and why America's public schools are terrible and failing children, and secondly, how spoiled I was to teach at a prestigious boarding school like WRA.  

When I think of WRA and Hudson, and failing public schools across the country, we can only be grateful.  Yes, there are challenges. But we are so fortunate. 

I am reminded that gratitude is a matter of perspective.  When we limit our perspective to our own little aches and pains and frustrations and fatigue...we feel sorry for ourselves like I did this morning.  

Now, it may be the extra sleep that helped, plus the delicious Bruegger's Green Mountain hazelnut coffee... but I am feeling much better.  I will get on my yoga mat later today and practice gratitude: for being able to still run with the boys, for teaching where I teach, for spending time with family over the generous holiday break ahead, for reading Sandee's post, and for sharing gratitude with this community.

And even gratitude for the exams that must be graded (the ones I have read thus far are quite good!). 

As I write this, I feel almost silly and guilty for my petty complaints here.  Again, gratitude is easy when things are good; when things are tough, we lose perspective, and we can lose hope.  Find gratitude.  And I write this humbly, since I lose perspective all the time.  Something in writing this post... I will reread and remember, again and again, find gratitude.  

Namaste, 

Kevin

For the trailer for Waiting for Superman.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZKTfaro96dg