Want to be happy? Be grateful!

Quote of the day

To wish you are someone else is to waste the person you are.

Quote of the day… on family

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“It’s all because of you!”

 

Today’s Daily Prompt: What’s the best (or rather, worst) backhanded compliment you’ve ever received? If you can’t think of any — when’s the last time someone paid you a compliment you didn’t actually deserve?

Most of my students’ parents have said to me in the past that ‘my child’s improvements have all been because of your help’. While I am extremely grateful for the compliment, I genuinely feel that I do not deserve it. I believe that children’s development is influenced by a number of factors. In schools, teachers, teaching assistants, lunchtime organisers, bus drivers, security guards, their peers and of course, their parents and care-givers all have a hand in their development. Any improvement- no matter how small or huge- is influenced by a lot of people. Children’s teachers may teach them how to read, but the likelihood of this skill to be learned quickly and retained is influenced by parents’ (and the child’s) efforts to practice and reinforce it.

I always remind families that they – especially the children themselves – are also responsible for the children’s overall development. This gives the students and families a sense of control which they ultimately have. I understand that we as educators have a large role to play in shaping the kids’ futures, I am fully aware that we are only a small piece of the puzzle.

Quote of the day… on gratitude

Quote of the day… on gratitude

How to Make People Happy Today

Here’s an advice on how to make the people around you happy:

From today, start treating other people (even strangers) with the exact same warmth that you would your best friend. Compliment them on their looks, their clothes. Let them know how they are adding to your general positive outlook and well-being.

Smile at people. Say ‘thank you’ a bit louder and with a smile. Smile and greet almost everyone from your postman to your family. Make them feel appreciated.

Remember that making other people happy has been found to halve stress levels!!

Witness Protection (Daily Prompt)

When you do something scary or stressful — bungee jumping, public speaking, etc. — do you prefer to be surrounded by friends or by strangers? Why?

I want to get everything right. I put a lot of pressure on myself to get better at everything each day. As a result, almost everything I do can be very stressful. Luckily, I am surrounded by the most supportive and understanding people in the world- my friends, family, colleagues and students.

Whenever I do something scary or stressful, I want to be surrounded by the people I mentioned above. They make me feel calm by reassuring me. I know that they will still be with me even if I fail. Their presence and support mean the most to me. And for that, I thank them.
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In response to the Daily Prompt: Witness Protection

Others’ entries:
Abozdar
WP chronicle
Rea’s practice blog
Bob Beck
Let the ballons sail away

Kevin Durant’s Inspirational MVP Speech: A Lesson in Gratitude

 

KEVIN DURANT– NBA scoring leader and Most Valuable Player. Greatest basketball player in the NBA this season.

Jeff Caplan wrote that Durant is the first player since Michael Jordan to:
1. Score at least 25pts in at least 40 games (MJ in 1987-1987)
2. Average 32.0 ppg, 7 rpg and 5 apg (MJ in 1988-89)

And he’s the first to have at least 35pts, 10 rebounds and 5 assists in 3 consecutive games since Larry Bird.

Most of us see the highlights, the exceptional shots, dunks, assists and game-winners. We see the wins and the losses, the rise of a leader. The rise of KD.

In his acceptance speech, KD emphasized that he did not do it alone. He had help and inapiration. He singled out his mom and each teammate. He thanked everyone who helped him reach his dream.

Winning an MVP trophy is seen as a celebration of an individual’s brilliance. An individual’s amazing effort and success. But Kevin Durant set the record straight. He became an MVP because of the people around him. He is still standing despite all the adversities that have happened to him as an individual, to his family and to Oklahoma- the city which his team is based.

He thanked the veteran players in his team who inspires and sets an example for him. He thanked the young players for looking up to him and thus made him consciously elevate his game. He thanked OKC Thunder’s management for believing in the team.

Kevin Durant is a supremely talented basketball player and a great leader. But what sets him apart from everyone else is his appreciation of the people around him. His speech showed that he does not take anything for granted.

We could all take a page from Kevin’s book. Let’s start (or continue) to appreciate what people do for us. As Kevin implied, we cannot succeed on our own.

(Daily Post) Pick Me Up: “Thank You”

What is the one word or phrase that immediately cheers you up as soon as you hear it?

The Daily Post

Hearing the words “THANK YOU” from others means a lot to me and it makes me happy. It shows that others have noticed me and were grateful for my actions and/ or words. It’s even better when I least expect it.

“Thank you” is also nice to hear coming out of my own mouth. I try my best to appreciate and explicitly express my gratitude to everyone who has done or said something nice to me. As much as it makes me feel positive by saying these words, I also like seeing other people’s faces ‘light up’ when they hear me say it.
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In response to the Daily Prompt: Pick Me Up

Here are others’ entries:
The Landslide Photography
Abozdar
Think Architect
Aimanpeer
PGHlesbian