Let's just start this off with, "Really, is this it?" But really, it is darn good. Did anyone else read Kristof's Sunday piece -
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/15/opinion/15kristof.html - about the African woman who overcame ridiculous obstacles to reach her dream? If you are feeling sorry for yourself, like I am right now, read it!
I just read it for the second time and feel better, way better.
It seems totally self-indulgent to now tell you about my petty problems, but some sick part of my feels compelled to share:
What possesses people to do stupid things? Or as we say to students, "Make bad choices." Mine usually only hurt myself luckily. Though my three children are certainly evidence of natural consequences that go way beyond myself (sorry kids!). So this time I decided to run after dark. It gets dark so darn early, doesn't it? As I ran towards the Nike campus I wanted to avoid the street so I cut though a field. Dark, night...hmmmm...About the second step my foot found a hole and I landed on my bad ankle (yes, the one that was broken for two years and I had surgery on two years ago).
Presently, I am sitting on my couch, foot propped up, waiting for the ibuprofen to kick in and yes, feeling sorry for myself. Why? Because it hurts and I am a wimp.
I just read about a woman who faced hurdles I can't even imagine and I just remembered a conversation I overhead at the school where I teach. A girl was explaining she had on pajamas because her "caseworker" does not allow her to wear skinny jeans and she has no other pants. No (decent) parents and no decent clothes. WTF is happening to our children!!?!!? They are not being "raised". If my school is the best it gets for these kids, god help them. God help us...Who is going to fund our Social Security?
Well, as Maya Angelou said in an email I received today (TY Jen O)..."Even though I have pains, I don't have to be a pain." When I read that earlier, I had no idea I was gong to have to live it!
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