I don't say thank you enough. I used to say it too much. It's not that I am less appreciative. Perhaps less committed to showing that appreciation. It could happen to anyone I suppose.
Things I am officially grateful for:
1. My children of course.
Beautiful young women with gifts and incredibly interesting minds. They sparkle and laugh, and sometimes the very sight of them takes my breath away. They support me in all my ridiculous busy'ness. They support each other in an abrasive strange way that only they understand. They nurture their friends and protect themselves from the evils of the world. They say thank you. To me. To everyone. They have honour and decency, and values that I admire. They can say "I am hurting" without shame. They can say "I need help" without feeling the less for it. They can say "This is not right" and stand by their decision. They can give without any need for return and they can accept with complete grace. They also bring me coffee when I am studying, screen my calls, and do my laundry. Clearly they are gifts from God. For how else could I have managed such perfection. Thank you girls. You are the jewels in my crown.
2. My Work
I have loved it for 30 years! And I will do it till I die! Teaching singing is my greatest joy and my finest expertise. It brings me my best opportunities and the finest of colleagues. It also brings out the very best in me - my passion, my patience, my generosity and people building skills. It teaches me about myself and about others. It connects me to a past so glorious I wish I had lived then. It colours every decision I make and strengthens every choice. It is blessed, blessed work that can hardly be defined as work. Rather it is a craft, that enriches me with every note and every tune. It's the world to which I belong, and could never imagine leaving. It's also the perfect balance to my GDLT journey, for its the one thing I can turn to and know I can do well with ease. That is precious at this time.
3. My Dad
He taught me all the things that sustain me now. He is my code, my compass and my confidant still. He makes me strong, and listens when I am weak. You are the reason Dad that I am still here in the GDLT. You taught me to always finish well. And I intend to. Thank you.
4. My Mentor Teacher
What an exceptional young woman! Her kindness and support is exactly what I need. Her structure is an inspiration. Her management is awesome. Her results are very apparent. What more could I ask? Thank you Jess.
5. My Second Subject Teacher
What a great woman! So much fun, and so clever. Her classes are a delight, and I am learning lots. It's like learning from a friend. Thank you Irene.
6. Beautiful Brian
... the Garden Wizard! No-one can cut a lawn and do edging like Brian. The most generous man I know. He sees me struggle with 2 teens, 2 jobs, uni and prac, and arrives at my place, overalled, goggled and mower at the ready. I missed you Brian, so much when you were unwell. Now you show up out of the blue, and step right back in to ease my load. You are such a blessing. I suspect Dad has sent you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
7. My ICT helpers
2. My Work
I have loved it for 30 years! And I will do it till I die! Teaching singing is my greatest joy and my finest expertise. It brings me my best opportunities and the finest of colleagues. It also brings out the very best in me - my passion, my patience, my generosity and people building skills. It teaches me about myself and about others. It connects me to a past so glorious I wish I had lived then. It colours every decision I make and strengthens every choice. It is blessed, blessed work that can hardly be defined as work. Rather it is a craft, that enriches me with every note and every tune. It's the world to which I belong, and could never imagine leaving. It's also the perfect balance to my GDLT journey, for its the one thing I can turn to and know I can do well with ease. That is precious at this time.
3. My Dad
He taught me all the things that sustain me now. He is my code, my compass and my confidant still. He makes me strong, and listens when I am weak. You are the reason Dad that I am still here in the GDLT. You taught me to always finish well. And I intend to. Thank you.
4. My Mentor Teacher
What an exceptional young woman! Her kindness and support is exactly what I need. Her structure is an inspiration. Her management is awesome. Her results are very apparent. What more could I ask? Thank you Jess.
5. My Second Subject Teacher
What a great woman! So much fun, and so clever. Her classes are a delight, and I am learning lots. It's like learning from a friend. Thank you Irene.
6. Beautiful Brian
... the Garden Wizard! No-one can cut a lawn and do edging like Brian. The most generous man I know. He sees me struggle with 2 teens, 2 jobs, uni and prac, and arrives at my place, overalled, goggled and mower at the ready. I missed you Brian, so much when you were unwell. Now you show up out of the blue, and step right back in to ease my load. You are such a blessing. I suspect Dad has sent you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
7. My ICT helpers
I am all about privacy. My work is very public and I feel very visible in the community, so it is entirely possibly that I have privacy 'issues'. Consequently I like to live quietly, think in seclusion, and theorise alone. I find the publicising of private spaces appalling and in the beginning I found in-course forums daunting and very time consuming. I did post a number of comments just the same. However, I am more of a "ponder in private" kinda gal. I did continue to read the forums also and enjoyed all the discoveries that seemed to be taking place, not least of which was my own. (Does that make me a lurker?)
It also seemed unrealistic to expect myself to shed in a week, the habits of a lifetime. Suffice to say I needed some out-sourced help for the questions I lacked the confidence to ask. Enter my mystery ICT helpers - brilliant and Heaven-sent, they shall remain nameless, as this is one resource I do not intend sharing. The bottom line is that to undertake the journey I needed more than a video for company. I guess in a way I just planned for my own diversity.
I have now developed some confidence, and feel quite proud. I have learned a lot and have already implemented some of it with my classes, and in my business. I am getting faster too and no longer feel intimidated by the technology. So... I am changing the way I learn, as suggested, and taking responsibility for my own learning, as advised, and I am so very thankful to the friends who have made time to tutor me.
8. My Home
I love the space, and drinking morning coffee watching the sea. I love the high ceilings for singing, and the big deck for lounging around. I love the colour (blue) and the fabulous European oven. I love the bus stop outside for the girls, and the fish shop at the corner. I love that it is so close to my friend Nola, and that Aunty Mary's house is just up the hill. I love the walk up Wreck Point, and the beach in the evening. I love the jungle and the gravel drive. It's taken 6 months to tame, but it has been worth it. No matter how tired I am after school, or how depleted I feel emotionally. This is my place. I love waking up here each morning, and I look forward to coming home to it every afternoon.
9. My friends
... all of whom are being so supportive. They must be sick and tired of hearing me complain about all the study and preparation. They must be tired of me forgetting birthdays, and not getting to functions. They must be totally over my educational journey, yet they are there. To come on a moments notice for a drink or a chat. To celebrate my birthday, or to grab a quick take out together. To lend me gear, and programs and internet access when mine fails. To smile, and affirm that they are sure I am going to be great. To laugh at my woes, and help me keep some perspective. Thank you all.
10. My Ex
That feels so strange to say after 14 years apart! We were terrible together. So terrible. Then we were even more terrible apart. So much more terrible! But 14 years on, he still pays into the child support account every month. Without that I would be struggling to cover the expense and time spent on my study. It's a strange kind of gratitude. But the reality is, we couldn't make it through this year without him. So thank you D.
It also seemed unrealistic to expect myself to shed in a week, the habits of a lifetime. Suffice to say I needed some out-sourced help for the questions I lacked the confidence to ask. Enter my mystery ICT helpers - brilliant and Heaven-sent, they shall remain nameless, as this is one resource I do not intend sharing. The bottom line is that to undertake the journey I needed more than a video for company. I guess in a way I just planned for my own diversity.
I have now developed some confidence, and feel quite proud. I have learned a lot and have already implemented some of it with my classes, and in my business. I am getting faster too and no longer feel intimidated by the technology. So... I am changing the way I learn, as suggested, and taking responsibility for my own learning, as advised, and I am so very thankful to the friends who have made time to tutor me.
8. My Home
I love the space, and drinking morning coffee watching the sea. I love the high ceilings for singing, and the big deck for lounging around. I love the colour (blue) and the fabulous European oven. I love the bus stop outside for the girls, and the fish shop at the corner. I love that it is so close to my friend Nola, and that Aunty Mary's house is just up the hill. I love the walk up Wreck Point, and the beach in the evening. I love the jungle and the gravel drive. It's taken 6 months to tame, but it has been worth it. No matter how tired I am after school, or how depleted I feel emotionally. This is my place. I love waking up here each morning, and I look forward to coming home to it every afternoon.
9. My friends
... all of whom are being so supportive. They must be sick and tired of hearing me complain about all the study and preparation. They must be tired of me forgetting birthdays, and not getting to functions. They must be totally over my educational journey, yet they are there. To come on a moments notice for a drink or a chat. To celebrate my birthday, or to grab a quick take out together. To lend me gear, and programs and internet access when mine fails. To smile, and affirm that they are sure I am going to be great. To laugh at my woes, and help me keep some perspective. Thank you all.
10. My Ex
That feels so strange to say after 14 years apart! We were terrible together. So terrible. Then we were even more terrible apart. So much more terrible! But 14 years on, he still pays into the child support account every month. Without that I would be struggling to cover the expense and time spent on my study. It's a strange kind of gratitude. But the reality is, we couldn't make it through this year without him. So thank you D.
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