Enjoy

enjoy

Those five letters, that one word stares me in the face every day. I found them at Bronner's this winter, big wooden letters cut out and coated thick with light green glitter. First off the glitter just makes the word fun to look at, and of course, I am a fan of the limey-green. But the simple message is just enough. To remind me to enjoy life, enjoy the ride before it is over, before I miss it.
Sure, there is endless work to do - make up my resume, cover letter, philosophy of teaching, twenty hours worth of lesson planning, practicing interview questions, preparing to be observed on a professional level by the principal, being innovative and creative instead of traditional and stagnant in teaching, finishing (well, starting) my honors thesis, blah blah blah you've all heard it. (But try typing out the list - it either puts things into perspective and makes you feel like Yes I can do it this is no big deal, or it really scares the crap out of you. That's what backspace is for.)
But what is the point of life if you cannot look back with a smile, laughing, knowing that you have done what you wanted to do, that you have discovered who you are and what you want and what you like to do and who you want to do it with.
I am so lucky right now that I can look back on all my intern experience thus far and truly say that I have enjoyed every second with my kids, that I have learned every day in the classroom - even from tears and frustration.