December 1, 2009
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OPA!!!
...and now, ladeez and gents,
the Greeks!
OPA!!!!!
The Daily News
1 OPA!!!!!! It is time to teach the Greeks!!! Wow wow!!! But first...
2 I just counted, and I've been to the gym 25 out of the past 29 days!!!! SERIOUSLY dude! I thought earlier it was like 20 out of the past 24 days, but nope; it's more!!! = )
3 I have been putting dots on a Giants' calendar, and I couldn't believe the stat, honestly. I recounted last night and smiled a HUGE smile!
4 What's amazing is that physically, I've probably shed around ten or fifteen pounds in that time. I'm not pleased with the results, naturally, but whoever IS?
5 Mentally, on the other hand, it's been astounding! When I first started this, I was already a bit of a screwball. Lots of stuff, but I have pulled water and put all of it behind me.
6 I really hadn't noticed that mentally, I have been totally on my game, in every area of life.
7 Like, looking back, right around Halloween, I was a complete basket case in all areas of thought.
8 Once I began pulling water, I was totally focused on getting myself in shape both physically AND mentally.
9 But really, I wasn't noticing how incredible it has been on the psyche to invest so much time in exercising AND getting more rest.
10 When Dad had to go back to the hospital, all mental focus on anything else became miniscule, and everything was placed in proper perspective.
11 I actually began thinking WAY rationally about everything. I think I had already started doing that, but the mental strength was happening without my even thinking about it.
12 Once I found that I needed to be strong for everyone else, my own stuff seemed contrived, and almost trivial.
13 Things I thought would be impossible to deal with somehow miraculously righted themselves, like a boat that was rocking dangerously suddenly finding the ability to right itself, and to make everything normal again.
14 Thank God for normal.
15 Without really even thinking, I turned all my love to my Dad, and to my family, and then to my students. Clearly, THAT is where that love needs to turn.
16 Happy to say it worked!
17 Yesterday, for example, I decided that EVERY day should be the best day of the year for my students!
18 When they came in, I had my computer hooked up to my wonderful Bose speaker, and brought this amazing classical Greek music playing delightfully as they entered the room.
19 Instead of starting with any sort of lecture, I began thus: "When I count to three, you yell OPA!!!! One! Two! Three!" This was met with loud cheers of "OPA!"
20 I raised my arms and had them dance, and kept encouraging rowdiness, shouting over the throngs, "We JUST celebrated a great time, so let's start Monday with joy and celebration and continue the party!!! WHEN I COUNT THREE, YOU SAY OPA!!!!"
21 The energy soared all day! I then went on to tell them that we were going to get rid of Edgar Allan Poe and that we were going to "go Grick (Greek!}!!!" The joyous music played, I cheered and danced, and the students kept chanting, "OPA!"
22 Haha!
23 I talked briefly about Myths and Legends, and introduced all to the Greeks, AND brought in, for the first time in YEARS the very awesome King Arthur legend!
24 I teach seasonally, so if you know the Arthurian tales, then you know that the Sword and the Stone appeared at St. Paul's Cathedral courtyard on Christmas day.
25 I gave only ten vocab words, and only if they shouted, "OPA!" The kids just jammed all period, each period, and we had a ball coming in from Thanksgiving.
26 That's been my focus, my passion, and my goal: to take everything I have to love, and to throw it into my classes!
27 It is like a new "golden age" for me. I just blew everything away and poured my heart into my lesson.
28 We're going into The Odyssey in English 1A, and into the immortal Antigone in English 2, and THEN English 2 will be the recipients of my classic King Arthur unit!
29 I have opened up creatively, and now look forward to every single day with strength, humor, music, celebration, and legendary tales.
30 Amazing changes, explosive and powerful.
31 Feels good to be sane again lol!
32 I'm back working on songs again, and writing, and singing, and loving all of it!
33 It feels wonderful to be back, can't even tellya.
34 Sometimes you just need a bit of stress to show the entire world that we can all bounce back and become more powerful and creative than ever.
35 You can do that too! It's so easy, honestly. It's all mental, as is most of our challenges. If we get into the right physical space, and work ourselves into a much healthier mental state, the world will open its arms to incredible miracles.
36 Sorry, but had a wonderful Monday, and can't wait 'til Tuesday!
37 Live life.
38 Love life. Give it your all man! And always, always, listen to the last word.
39 Opa!!!! Oh yeah! and...
40 Peace.
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