Conflicting Emotions

Watching the news coverage about Japan has me feeling extremely sad for all the hurt and anguish the earthquakes and tsunami have brought upon the people of Japan.

The fighting for democracy in Libya, Yemen, and other countries causes me to feel proud for the people who are wanting a change in their lives. However, their being crushed by the politicians causes great sadness in me. Why do people have to die?

All the events that are going on in the world brings one's own life into perspective: Where as the other day I was frustrated because I have to get up early in order to get a ride to school/work, I now give thanks that I have that ride to work because it saves me the hassle of having to commute by bus...

My life is good! I have a husband I can be myself with, one that appreciates my sense of humour and doesn't mind my unwinding by silliness. I have a wonderful and caring mother, one who has always wanted the best for me and who strived to help me when I needed it. I had a good father, with faults as we all have, who loved his children very much. I have a brother and a sister who, although not as close as my mom would like us to be, do talk to one another fairly often and have not distanced ourselves from one another. We are always there for each other when in times of stress...
I have a job I truly enjoy. I enjoy researching topics and spending time finding new resources for the subjects I teach. I love walking into the classrooms knowing that the majority of the children look forward to having me in their classroom and, even better, knowing that most of them enjoy what I am teaching them. The good working relationships I have with fellow teachers is something that is also very important in my being content.

I wish the happiness I have to all - to my colleagues, my friends, my family, the yayas, as well as to I do not know. May you all find some happiness in your lives...

Staying Possitive

Back to School!

So, tomorrow I go back to work! I am looking forward to having an absolutely great year with all the students I will be teaching, monitoring during nutrition breaks and recess times, during the craft club as well as any that I will meet in the halls and stairwells while "commuting" to the various classrooms I will be in. I am also looking forward to a wonderful year with the staff :)


Guatemala - Landslides:

How can one be positive when hearing of the many deaths that the landslides in Guatemala are causing - while others may say that the human death toll is not much compared to what has happened in other regions of the world, they are still human lives: fathers, mothers, sisters, brothers, children to other people. I pray for those who have lost loved ones - may God help give them comfort and help them to continue to live life always remembering the happy moments of the lives of those they have lost.

Will I have what it takes? I must give it my best shot!

I have read through all of the P90X Fitness Guide...When I was reading the first few paragraphs, and even the first few pages, I was thinking to myself, "OMG, what have I gotten myself into?" There were many warnings about how if you've not done Power 90 or 10 Minute Work Out (or something similar) than you are not ready for P90X...

However, though for the past couple of years I have been somewhat lazy when it comes to exercise, I have done some light weight training and interval training (cardio) on occasion.

I continued reading, and, I did the fitness test. Now, try as I might, I have never been able to do a chin up. However, most weight-lifting movements can be replicated with exercise tubing. I will be using the tubing to replace the chin up bar. Other than that, and the Heart Rate Maximizer (which requires one to do jumping jacks for 2 minutes and then completely stop so that you can then measure your heart rate immediately, after 2 minutes, etc.) it seems that I am ready for P90X.

I decided that I would not do the Heart Rate Maximizer because I do not like the idea of coming to a full stop after getting your heart rate so high. I always have been educated to include a cool down so that the heart can gradually go back to it's normal rate. I jumped for 1 minute, jogged for 1 minute, marched for 1 minute and then I walked for 1 minute and just left it at that.

I've also read some of the Nutrition Guide. Much of it reminds me of Tosca Reno's views on eating clean:


http://www.eatcleandiet.com/

Unfortunately, I have not been very motivated to exercise - I'd much rather read or craft. However, I think I will actually start with the program tomorrow - wish me luck!