Cheerfulness Check

After a particularly bumpy Monday, I pulled my copy of The Catholic Teacher’s Companion off the shelf. It practically fell open to the chapter on cheerfulness.

“It is well for the teacher to have the saving sense of humor, for this may preserve her from being soured with the unpleasant experiences of the schoolroom. Without a sense of humor, her monotonous life may easily make her morose and unduly severe, but with an eye for humorous situations she will laugh away most of the obstacles in her path.”

Hmm. Point well taken.

Remember how happy we were as kids to have a happy teacher? These were the favored educators–the talk of the playground, the sought-after, the inspirational. The subjects they taught did not matter; what was important was their approach.

They were almost always cheerful, weren’t they?

Well, I want to be my children’s favorite teacher.

A worthy goal, do you not think?

Consequently, in the wee hours of the morning today before my young charges descended, I determined to be a more cheerful mommy. I looked to my three tried-and-true sources: prayer, exercise & other blogging mommies. (I shall not say if they were in that order.) I found my answer and it was D. All of the above!

Here’s what helped me out on this sunny Autumn Tuesday:

1. Today’s Gospel reading (Martha! Martha! Thank you for being a saint who understands me!)
2. Stair-stepping my way through “If I had a Million Dollars” by Barenaked Ladies. It’s such a cheerful, funny tune! Thank you to sweet & sassy ‘Meg at Life in a Nutshell for the recommendation; a little bit of BNL was just what I needed.
3. And finally, this photograph and these. My heart skipped a happier beat just to see them.

Let’s try to corner the market on being cheerful today, my friends, and may your children be even happier for your trying!

Good luck & God bless you!

Me