The Serenity Prayer Monday, Jul 31 2006

Here’s my favourite prayer, just remember to leave your worries with Him and He will give you rest.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,

courage to change the things I can, and

wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;

Enjoying one moment at a time;

Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;

Taking, as He did, this sinful world

as it is, not as I would have it;

Trusting that He will make all things right

if I surrender to His Will;

That I may be reasonably happy in this life

and supremely happy with Him

Forever in the next.

Amen

- Reinhold Niebuhr.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths.”

-Proverbs 3: 5-6

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Post that never happened? Friday, Jul 28 2006

Typed a post in the morning, now its disappeared into cyberspace. Wonder what happened to it. Anyway it served its purpose.

Am feeling much better after some time spent relaxing. I think sometimes I let myself get too affected by what students do.

Should I just let things slide more? Maybe I should, maybe students are better off without me getting on their backs. But then again maybe they aren’t. Somebody needs to teach them some discipline and work ethic. Too bad that I’m not the tolerant sort when it comes to defiance. Just too bad.

I think I have thought about it and rationalised it ad nauseum in the past, and so far except for (probably) some students who are not too pleased and think I’m some tyrant, I think the message is clear. Don’t mess with the lessons, don’t mess with the curriculum, and behave like a lady or gentleman. Learn character, it will serve you well, don’t learn it, and people will curse the school after cursing you.  Which am I concerned about?  Probably more the student, but then again who knows.

If something you do bothers me, then its really not being myself if I keep quiet about it.  So you will hear about it.  This is my style.  I am an educator, I educate.  If I tolerate, it is not educational.

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Weekend at last! Friday, Jul 21 2006

Finally the weekend has arrived, and next week’s lesson load is lighter than normal, so its quite a relief to reach this part of the week.

Its been a tough 3 to 4 weeks of term, with more and more seeming to pile up at this stage of the term.  It looks like its going to get worse as the PW drafts start arriving.

Next week comes as a welcome breather.  Though this weekend I need to clear up quite a lot of stuff.  To list it is rather painful.

The day ended with a football match with the ODAC students, the score is immaterial, it was relaxing to be able to run around.

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Long tiring day Wednesday, Jul 19 2006

Had another long draining day today. It wasn’t that heavy in terms of teaching load, but was really tired in the early afternoon.

I think on the whole I am feeling the toll of working too hard.

I guess I am still seeking balance in my life, and deciding what exactly I am trying to achieve.

The next half year or so will be an important time in the history of the school, when we review how the new programme has been over the last 2 years and decide how to move forward from there, condensing and reviewing the programmes into better ones.

It has been an exciting time for the school, with exciting times still ahead. I guess its a good time to be in the school, hopefully my time there does not come to an end too prematurely. But that is not to be decided by me.

I don’t know why these thoughts are running through my head at this time, perhaps its because the boss is also busy trying to make a decision regarding the future of the programme. Perhaps its also because many friends and counterparts are facing transfers out, not entirely of their own choice. My time is coming soon, while the prospect of new challenges never fazes me, it is nonetheless daunting.

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49 Days Tuesday, Jul 18 2006

It has been 49 days since a friend was called to be with the Lord.  I guess those around me closer to her are still having problems coming to terms with her sudden passing, and who can blame them.

I am concerned about them.  Although considering their friendships, it is only understandable that they will need much more than 49 days to truly move on.

But then again what is moving on about really?  Should our dear departed really be forgotten in order to move on?  Surely not.  But as time goes by, inevitably the sense of loss lessens.

How do we treasure the memories of those who have left, without overly dwelling on them?  I guess this is the ultimate question isn’t it?

What I am thankful for is how everybody is now closer after this episode.  Undoubtedly, this is one of the silver linings.  I hope that this can carry on and that life can regain normalcy for those most affected by her passing.

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