Sometimes laughter is the best medicine and a good laugh can be just what you need to push through a long week. (And a week with an inservice essentially all about standardized testing definitely counts as a long week!)
Memes have become an internet phenomenon and thanks to some crafty teachers, there are plenty for us to relate to. Check out some of the best and enjoy some a laugh!
For me, the greatest motivation sometimes comes in the forms of responsibility & gratitude. I am lucky to have a life of relative easy and abundance. Yes, sometimes the looming debt of my student loans is terrifying and sometimes I stress about paying my bills, saving money and making it home to visit my family on a semi-regular basis but all in all, I'm pretty lucky to have those worries. I never go hungry because I can't afford food. I never go thirsty or dirty because there isn't water to drink. And because I am fortunate to have those things, I also feel a certain sense of responsibility for those who aren't as lucky.
John Green posted a video today (posted below) about looking away, about poverty (especially in Ethiopia) and about an opportunity to help make life a little better for those in Ethiopia. Water.org, which is a great charity, has set up a specific fundraiser to benefit sustainable water solutions for people there. Bill Gates is going to match donations over the next ten days, up to $100,000.
So today, my motivation is centered on making the world at least a little bit better, through awareness and funds. If you've got a few dollars to spare, feel free to join. If not, help spread the word--maybe about this project or any other your passionate about.
Greetings & welcome to Motivational Minutes--your one-stop shop for a pinch of positivity. I have a snippet in our school news letter but I thought I might take the chance to expand a little bit and create a hub for all the wonderful motivational videos, posts, quotes and music that people far cleverer than I are able to create.
From time to time I'll add things here to help get you through the day, whatever your profession, ambitious or interests. I'll do my very best to give proper credit where it is due but the internet is a tangled place of uncertainty when it comes to the ownership of thoughts so I disclaim myself here: I will cite as much as I'm able, discredit myself whenever applicable and ask you to help me track down citations (or correct them) if ever I stumble.
For now, I leave you with a small dash of inspiration in the form of my favorite quote:
"If you want to build a ship, don't drum up people to collect wood and don't assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea."
Antoine de Saint-Exupery
(Let's hope that actual posts will easier than the welcome blog, or this is going to be one painful project!)
