a random thought

I heard shouting and turned to see a fish hurling through the air into a man’s arms. A cheer followed, and the fish was expertly wrapped and given to a laughing woman. I was laughing, too. I watched for fifteen minutes. The shouts, cheers, and laughing continued—mixed with flying fish. At the Pike Place Fish Market in Seattle, Washington, it’s another day at work. We should all learn something from them.

So it’s Wednesday night I’m not really tired and blogging just makes me happy. It’s good practice for someday when I write my book!

I’ve decided to write about the FISH philosophy tonight—it is something that I first learned about in college. The FISH! Philosophy was started in Seattle at a fish market and it is about four different principles to live by to make your life and work more enjoyable. I am going to introduce you my readers to them and tell you how I lived the FISH philosophy in the past week! Quinhagak talked about it last year so it is definitely something I plan on incorporating more into my classroom.

Choose your attitude!

Now this one is a BIG one especially since I live in Alaska. There are many times where I just get stressed out. I miss my fast food restaurants, I miss tanning, I miss my flush toilet—but I think I can either be Debbie Downer—or I can make the most of this experience. Every morning no matter what is on my mind, I try to go into my classroom with a big smile on my face. After all it is not my student’s fault that I am having a bad day. This experience here can either be wonderful or a struggle—it is my choice and my tude that decides it!

Play—

Teaching is something I love! Sometimes I just need to find ways to laugh a little and enjoy life. Play is probably my favorite because I am a girl who knows how to have fun! Here is an example of how I did play today. After each of my reading sessions I played hot potato with music with my students. It gave me a chance to relax a little and laugh a little. I enjoyed seeing the kids smile and having fun just by playing a quick little game. It is essential to work hard play hard!

Make their day— “The world becomes a better place the moment you act on an intention to serve another.”

I feel the children make my day everyday—they give me friendly smiles, they say funny things, they know how to turn a frown upside down. Just today I found myself getting a little stressed out, and one of my students said Miss Weaver are you happy? I said yes. They said good I like it when your happy and then gave me a hug! One of my goals for the year is to try to think about others first and how I can make their day before trying to make my own. =)

Be there—

Living in a rural village in Alaska I definitely see this philosophy the most. The other teachers are like a family to me. We are always there for each other. If I need cheered up, sure they will make fun of me for crying but then they will cheer me up! If we run out of something I know I can always run across the road and my ingredient is only a knock away. It is great knowing that there are so many people around me who will “be there” for me and they know I will do the same. An example of this is my lunch times with Steph. Everyday we eat lunch together and I always know this is a time I can get away and just have a relaxing time chatting and gossiping on people.com. It is a time I can just talk, be myself, and enjoy a bite to eat.

So that ends my random babbling –hope you enjoyed, sometimes it is just nice to wind down before bed!

So this week is long but halfway over! After this blog I shall hit the hay and tomorrow will be Thursday! I am really looking forward to this weekend and just relaxing and…SLEEPING IN! I’ve been in Bethel the last two weekends so it will be nice to just do whatever I want. Who knows maybe I’ll even get a slush puppie!