I believe. This is the season of believing, and what happened yesterday is proof.
Yesterday was a bad day. Period. School was difficult, and nothing I was doing with children made an ounce of difference. When I got home, Hubby asked, “How was your day?” I said, “I don’t want to talk about it.” I didn’t. Why hash all that went wrong?
I went to the grocery store and splurged on a Powerball Ticket. The clerk is always wonderful and chatty. She asked how my day was, and then I asked how her day was.
“My thirteen-year-old is bullied in school, and they are doing nothing about it. Today we got an eviction notice. We have to be out by the end of January.”
So, here is this happy person, someone I enjoy talking with when I’m at the store, and her bad day makes mine seem like peanuts. I asked her to blow on my Powerball ticket for good luck, because I’d give her a million dollars if I won.
Giving. That’s what it’s all about.
And then more happened.
I went to pick up a sandwich on the way to school today. A former parent was there, and she was excited to see me. She needed to tell me about her son, and how life is not so good. She cried. Then she took my shoulders and said, “Your blog has saved me. I read every post. It’s what keeps me going. I don’t know how I’d survive without reading your blog.”
My goodness. I hugged her. I had no words. Everyone in the store was looking. You could have heard a pin drop.
When you have a bad day, remember someone else had a day (or more) that is worse.
Count your blessings, because there are many. You just might not see them at the time.
Believe. Right around the corner is something wonderful. You just have to look for it. That takes patience, which I’m still working on. In this case, the two events are proof.
“People will forget what you said,
people will forget what you did,
but people will never forget
how you made them feel.”
~Maya Angelou~
Jennie
A Teacher's Reflections 
Silver linings Jennie 🙂 hope your days are good now.
Yes, I always look for the silver linings. Days are usually good. Many thanks, FR.
yes, absolutely. every word of this.
😍
Remembering to be grateful and counting our blessings are two quiet yet super powerful life practices available to each one of us (if we can remember to take a few deep breaths and slow down in order to regain perspective…) Somehow they also tend to evoke empathy, too. Thanks for another human, inspiring blog post, Jennie!
Well said, Will. Those few deep breaths make a difference. We have the children take those breaths, too. Perspective is important. I like how you commented on evoking empathy. Many thanks, Will!
Spontaneously feeling genuine and profound gratitude is a wonderful thing. Thanks for sharing yours, Jennie. I love that quote too. Hugs on the wing.
Yes, it is! Beautifully said, Teagan. The quote is one of my favorites. Thank you, and many hugs!
Every time!
Yes!
I know how that mum feels Jennie your blog means the world to me too 💜💜💜
My goodness, if that isn’t the nicest thing! You made my Christmas, Willow. Thank you! ❤️
Its my pleasure may you and all your family have a wonderful Christmas and a happy healthy New Year. …. Where will Gloria be?
Thanks so much, Willow. I wish you and your family a happy, healthy, and wonderful Christmas. I asked families on Friday if anyone wanted Gloria for the holidays. Nothing yet. If she spends Christmas with me, I’ll be thrilled.
Have a wonderful Christmas all of you ! With or without Gloria! If I lived closer she could come to us… The family especially the grandsons would love her 💜💜💜
Willow, Gloria is always up for traveling. Just say the word. Merry Christmas!
That was my dad’s philosophy: no matter how bad things are, someone else has it worse. I have to keep reminding myself. Your blog has made a difference to so many, Jennie.
You dad was right. I have to keep reminding myself, too. I was shocked at the mom’s comment, yet knowing I’ve made a little difference is a tremendous thing. Thank you, Darlene!
This was a profoundly moving post, Jennie. Thank you for sharing your highs and lows and your connection to others. 🤗💕
Thank you for your wonderful comment, Alethea. I am humbled.
The power of compassion. Empathy and understanding. Caring about the lives of others, people we don’t know, people struggling to get by in a world that has gotten so very very cold. Thanks for sharing this.
You said it well, John. That’s what matters most, especially in a world that’s become very cold. Many thanks!
A teary eyed post, Jennie. L ike the song says, ‘Count your blessings instead of sheep.’
Awww… thank you, Don. Yes, Bing Crosby sang that wonderful song well. If only everyone followed the song’s message, right?
I do think like that, Jennie. It is so true. Well, I go too far. My kids tell me about their ‘bad day’ and I say ‘Suck it up buttercup’ and I tell them about other people with worse days. THAT doesn’t work!
Jacqui, I say “suck it up buttercup” to myself often, and it works.
Thank you, dear Jennie, for looking at life in this perspective.
There is always always someone who has it tougher than ourselves, who brings home to us, just how grateful we are for those reminders that we can turn our thoughts around, to give our thoughts and prayers to those whose predicament is worse than our own.
Im just so grateful that we’ve received news today that our granddaughter may be allowed home from the hospital tomorrow.
Joy, oh Joy, she is coming home ..
I’ve been quiet recently due to family health issues.
Your posts, Jennie, always are uplifting..
Thank you. And may all your future days be MERRY AND BRIGHT ✨️💜✨️
Thank you, Sue! This is a perspective we all need to see. Be grateful and understand there are many people who are far worse off.
Your granddaughter is coming home from the hospital! Joy is the magic word!
I’m so glad my posts are uplifting, Sue. That means a lot. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
💖🎄💖
If I complained about anything as a child, my mum always used to say, “There are little children starving in Africa. They are going to bed hungry and thirsty tonight, too tired to even cry. You don’t know how lucky you are”.
She was right of course.
Best wishes, Pete.
Best to you, Pete.
My mom said the same thing, Pete. We were lucky!
Jennie, I always try to keep in mind there is always someone less fortunate than I, or having a worse day than I. I wasn’t always that way, but looking back I don’t think youth can ever give us the perspective and experience needed to get to that place. It is said when we feel like we have an overwhelming number of problems to just sit down for a moment and tally up the blessings you have in your life. Suddenly, those problems don’t seem quite so hard to deal with. A bad day to start…a great day at the end!
Well said, Bruce. I think about youth having that perspective. I never did, but I also never did community service when I was young. While kids don’t have that whole perspective, community service helps. Yes, sit down quietly and tally up the blessings when you’re overwhelmed. As you said, it was a bad day to start, and a great day at the end. Many thanks!
Thank you, Jennie for this poignant reminder. I appreciate the quote, too. I hope today is a better day for you
Much appreciated, Susan. I’m glad it’s a poignant reminder. Thank you. Yes, today is a better day. Fortunately my bad days are few and far between. It’s so good to hear from you!
Everything is relative.
And I’ve always loved that quote by Maya Angelou.
My mother-in-law used to tell me when anything bad happened and there was nothing to do about it after it was dealt with, “No point in dwelling on it. Just throw it over your shoulder.”
Yes, everything is relative. Your mother-in-law was right. I’ve always loved the quote, too. Thank you, Anneli.
Bad days do happen but can be tempered by knowing others could have it much worse. Thanks for sharing this experience, Jennie.
Well said, John. Many thanks.
😊
Oh Jennie, I hope your day got better. And I also hope and pray that lady who is being evicted will find a home.
Fortunately my bad days are few and far between. This one was a doozie. I hope she will find a home, too. She’s always the happiest person. You never know about someone till you ask, right?
Thank you for sharing these experiences, Jennie. It’s so important to have perspective when we’re out of sorts.
Yes, it really is. Thank you, Liz.
You’re welcome, Jennie.
I hope you had a better day today, Jennie. You are important to a lot of people.
I did, Dan. Many thanks!
This is so important to remember. 💚
Yes! Thank you.
Thank you for the reminder that what we do in this space is important. We may never know this side of heaven what kind of impact we really had.
Spot on! We often don’t know. Many thanks.
Keeping things in perspective is essential. Thanks for that reminder, Jennie. I had my share of bad days. Some days I felt like talking about it; other times, not so much. After I’d tell Debbie about some of the absurdities, we’d often end up laughing at the ridiculousness. The crazy thing is, there is frequently no rhyme or reason; then, for whatever reason, the next day can be a gem.
That’s exactly how it goes, Pete. And, you know that all too well. I rarely/never write about bad days, but this one was a doozie, plus the turnaround remarkable turnaround. My best to you and Debbie!
This is so beautiful! I love this!
Thank you!
I love the sentiment here, and I too, try to remember that it could always be worse on the worst of days, and to be grateful for what we have. While I envy the life some live, not worrying about money, I know there are others who may envy my simple little life. Thank you for the little reminder.
Thank you, Karma. You are spot on. I feel the same way. Sometimes it takes a bad day and a big turnaround to see the big picture and remember how lucky we are. I worry about money, but my simple life is far grander.
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Thank you!
Jennie…tears over here, dear one. Tears and gratitude mixed together – my favorite combo of emotions, I think. Thank you for this post and your message and for all of your beautiful words – all year long. xo! 💝
Awww… my heart is full. Thank you, Vicki 💕
Xo! ❤️🥰❤️
😍
Wonderful post, Jennie! It reminds me of how lucky I am, even on the darkest of days!
Thank you, Cathy. I felt the same way. Big wake up calls don’t happen often.
Excellent quote Jennie. Feeling gratitude is such an amazing thing. Thanks for sharing this lovely post.
You are so right, Kamal. Thank you!
Lol she would be so welcome.. be blessed 💜💜
My goodness, this will be a wonderful adventure for Gloria, and for the children. It will be a huge lesson in geography, and of course friendship. Willow, email me at sfitzkee@erols.com
Thank you for sharing this story about perspective, Jennie. I will try to remember this when I have a bad day 🤗💕
I will try to remember this when I have a bad day, too. I think writing about it was important. Thank you, Robbie.
Thank you for sharing it, Jennie. I will keep this message in my heart 🎄❤️🎄❤️
❤️
Always welcome Jennie 😊
Thank you, Kamal!
That was quite moving and a wonderful reminder to count our blessing. It’s true every cloud has a silver lining. We just need to have patience and “see”. 🥰
Well said, Deborah. Thank you!
beautiful post. so did you win the lottery? 🙂
Thank you, Jim. No, I didn’t win – yet. 😀
We will buy a ticket for tomorrow’s drawing – fingers crossed!
Me, too!
good luck to you!
Much appreciated!
❤️❤️❤️
Every word of truth Jennie. And don’t forget, you became those people’s earth angel that day for someone else without realizing. Magical how that works.🧡
Beautifully said, Debby! Thank you! It really is magical how that works. 💕
Absolute. Merry Christmas. 💜🌲
So true, Jennie. I try not to complain, because the person I’m complaining to, might have it a lot worse than I do. I love that quote from Maya Angelou.b
Exactly! I feel the same way. And the quote is one of my favorites.
I completely agree with your valuable and inspirational post Jennie. We have to find solutions and hope in every problem.
Well said, Kamal. Thank you!
You are always welcome dear Jennie ❤️
Thank you, Kamal!
Always welcome dear Jennie ❤️
Thank you, Kamal!
Welcome Jennie 😊
Thank you, Kamal!
Welcome Jennie
Thank you, Kamal!