One moment at a time...

So one of my goals was to enjoy my job again, for more than a moment.  I tried really hard during the first week of school to stay positive and enjoy myself, and was mostly successful.  But then, the second week happened.  Bill 115 was passed, union meetings were called, questions about extra-curriculars and banked days and sick leave were swirling all around.  Meanwhile deadlines are in place, kids are "settling in" and becoming real to me, and re-organization is right around the corner.  So what was the first thing to go out the window?  Positivity....no big surprise.  Even meeting with my amazing book club friends is different, now that school is back.  All of us looked tired, sad, annoyed and overwhelmed.  Already?
So what to do.  Well, it's back to moment-by-moment I think.  I will force myself to think of something positive upon exiting that school building each night.  To stop, and actually think about my day not in terms of what I didn't get done, what I need to do tomorrow, or what new deadlines are looming, but instead think about what I saw.  Child A helped Child B find a pencil when they needed it.  Child C used an awesome math strategy and shared with the class.  Everyone read for 10 uninterrupted minutes today.  Just something to make me smile before I go.  I'm not sure if this will help all the negative energy swirling around the building these days (thanks Dalton), but I'm hoping it will help me leave in a better frame of mind to come back again the next day.  Because at the end of the day, if I'm not having fun, the kids won't be either.  And that is the most important thing to me, that those kids have a great day when they get in the door.  So I will give it a try, moment by moment, and see what comes....along with a little bit of chocolate I might just be okay!