Rooted.

My time off from work has come to a close; I have been home from Colorado for the past two days and I have worked the past two days as well.  My first summer off as a teacher has been refreshing and rewarding, and there is so much energy in me for this up coming school year.

Summer break was much needed and there is so much to write about my trips, but I will save that for a later time.

For now, I am writing to offer myself some personal peace of mind.  This summer I cleared my head, felt at peace, felt engaged with the world around me, and felt satisfied and confident with my life and my state of equanimity.  I have over the years developed a very calm and reflective disposition, partially due to my different traveling experiences and gaining different perspectives, partially due to books that I have read, and partially due to maturing in general.  I have learned that the obstacles in our lives should be looked at as opportunities to succeed, and that we should solve problems immediately if possible.  If there are no solutions to certain problems, then forget about them.

Today I felt stressed and overwhelmed from meetings and thinking about planning for the new subjects that I will be teaching this year.  I found myself thinking way ahead in time and wondering what I would be doing in classes a month from now, if I would finish all of my graduate work, or if I would have time to read all the novels that I will be teaching along with the books that I plan on reading for pleasure.

Then I realized, thanks to Richard Carlson's book Don't Sweat the Small Stuff...and it's all small stuff, that one's thinking can create a snowball effect.  The more I thought about everything that is on the horizon, the more I felt overwhelmed.  I have lessons to plan, books to read, graduate work to complete, and my personal life to worry about.  Will I complete or be able to handle all of these tasks?  Yes.  Will I have time to breathe?  Yes.  Will I have time to be happy and return to my summer-like state of zen?  Well, I will definitely be happy.

Humans are amazing in that we have the power to completely manipulate reality.  Our perceptions create our reality.  We have the capability to slow down and enjoy the little moments and to not fret over our "problems" and daily obstacles--but some of us choose to be stressed and busy.  We have the option of choosing to be calm and collected.  It is not helpful to worry or be stressed about things that are accomplishable.  If there are things that we cannot handle or have no control over, then there is no sense in worrying about them.  My current stresses are all positive and manageable; they will serve the purpose of shifting me back into gear.

Will I remember the things that stressed me out today one year from now?  Sometimes you need to stop and reflect about the bigger picture.