the toothpaste lesson

Many years ago, my daughter, Emily, had a lovely 3rd grade teacher, named Mrs. Snoddy. She was a favorite of ours. You see, she was one of those rare teachers that taught more than textbook education. She taught life lessons and virtues. She left a lasting impression on us all and I am so grateful she touched our lives.

So back to the Toothpaste Lesson.

There seem to be a problem with some of the children getting along. Some hurtful things were said and Mrs. Snoddy had enough. She announced that each child was to bring a tube of toothpaste to class the next day. Didn't have to be new, or a certain type or size. Just bring it to class the following day.

My daughter, along with her classmates were anxious to see what new experiment Mrs. Snoddy had up her sleeves. They always had impromptu experiments, and lessons. She always had that touch of excitement and enchantment in the classroom.

So the following day, she put wax paper down on the desktops and told the children, they were to squirt out some toothpaste.

Some of the children immediately started squirting out the paste into mountains. While others cautiously would let out just a tiny bit. A few, actually asked her, "How much are we to squirt?". Mrs. Snoddy, answered with, "That is your decision."

The teacher walked about the class examining the children's "work".

Finally she said, "Okay Class, now put it back into the tubes."

Well, you can imagine the looks on their faces. Many tried, desperately attempting to figure out a way to reverse what had been expelled.

None we successful at retrieving ALL the paste back into the tube.

Mrs. Snoddy had their attention.

She explained that much like this tube of toothpaste, are our mouths with words. Once you let it out, it's very difficult to take it back.

She said, "The next time, you are angry, or grumpy, gossipy, or even playfully teasing, think about this tube of toothpaste on your desk. Think about how once you save something harsh or negative, you can't take it back." Remeber, it is your decission. Choose your words wisely."

I am pretty sure, my daughter wasn't the only one that remembers this lesson.

Bravo, Mrs. Snoddy.!

Hopefully, Emily will remember these lessons to pass on to her classrooms to come. Your lessons were the best!

101 Stress Copes

My dear friend/Family Doctor had this posted on one of his exam room walls. I wanted to copy it, but he gave it to me as I much needed it :)
I want to share with you all. I plan to try to attempt one a day covering all within the next 101 days.

101 Ways To Cope With Stress


~GET UP EARLIER~ PREPARE AHEAD~ AVOID TIGHT CLOTHES~ AVOID CHEMICAL AIDS~ SET APPOINTMENTS~ WRITE IT DOWN~ PRACTICE PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE~ MAKE DUPLICATE KEYS~ SAY NO MORE OFTEN~ SET PRIORITIES~ AVOID NEGATIVE PEOPLE~ USE TIME WISELY~ SIMPLIFY MEALS~ COPY IMPORTANT PAPERS~ ANTICIPATE NEEDS~ MAKE REPAIRS~ GET HELP WITH JOBS YOU DISLIKE~ BREAK DOWN LARGE TASKS~ LOOK AT PROBLEMS AS CHALLENGES~ LOOK AT CHALLENGES DIFFERENTLY~ UN-CLUTTER YOUR LIFE~ SMILE~ PREPARE FOR RAIN~ TICKLE A BABY~ PET A DOG/CAT~ DON'T KNOW ALL THE ANSWERS~ LOOK FOR THE SILVER LINING~ SAY SOMETHING NICE~ TEACH A KID TO FLY A KITE~ WALK IN THE RAIN~ SCHEDULE PLAY TIME~ TAKE A BUBBLE BATH~ BE AWARE OF YOUR DECISIONS~ BELIEVE IN YOURSELF~ STOP TALKING NEGATIVELY~ VISUALIZE WINNING~ DEVELOP A SENSE OF HUMOR~ STOP THINKING TOMORROW WILL BE BETTER~ HAVE GOALS~ DANCE A JIG~ SAY HELLO TO A STRANGER~ ASK A FRIEND FOR A HUG~ LOOK AT THE STARS~ BREATHE SLOWLY~ WHISTLE A TUNE~ READ A POEM~ LISTEN TO A SYMPHONY~ WATCH A BALLET~ READ A STORY~ DO SOMETHING NEW~ STOP A BAD HABIT~ BUY A FLOWER~ SMELL THE FLOWER~ FIND SUPPORT~ FIND A "VENT-PARTNER"~ DO IT TODAY~ BE OPTIMISTIC~ PUT SAFETY FIRST~ DO THINGS IN MODERATION~ NOTE YOUR APPEARANCE~ STRIVE FOR EXCELLENCE, NOT PERFECTION~ STRETCH YOUR LIMITS~ ENJOY ART~ HUM A JINGLE~ MAINTAIN YOUR WEIGHT~ PLANT A TREE~ FEED THE BIRDS~ PRACTICE GRACE~ STRETCH~ HAVE A PLAN "B"~ DOODLE~ LEARN A JOKE~ KNOW YOUR FEELINGS~ MEET YOUR NEEDS~ KNOW YOUR LIMITS~ SAY HAVE A GOOD DAY IN PIG LATIN~ TROW A PAPER AIRPLANE~EXERCISE~ LEARN A NEW SONG~ GET TO WORK EARLIER~ CLEAN A CLOSET~ PLAY WITH A CHILD~ GO ON A PICNIC~ DRIVE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO WORK~ LEAVE WORK EARLY~ PUT AIR FRESHENER IN YOUR CAR~ WATCH A MOVIE AND EAT POPCORN~ WRITE A FAR AWAY FRIEND~ SCREAM AT A BALL GAME~ EAT A MEAL BY CANDLELIGHT~ RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE~ REMEMBER STRESS IS AN ATTITUDE~ KEEP A JOURNAL~ SHARE A MONSTER SMILE~ REMEMBER YOUR OPINION~ BUILD A SUPPORT NETWORK~ QUIT TRYING TO FIX OTHERS~ GET ENOUGH SLEEP~ TALK LESS AND LISTEN MORE~ PRAISE OTHERS~

TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME... YOU HAVE THE REST OF YOUR LIFE TO LOVE

Control Alt Delete

Recently I got a forward that had some funny little, don't you wish you could...blah blah blah. It was good and I did forward it. I don't mind the forwards that make me laugh, especially when they do not say, you must forward.

Anyway, one of the funny little things said,..

"wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life, we could simply press, "Ctrl Alt Delete" and start over?"

I keep thinking about this. Man, wouldn't it be great? I mean really! I can not tell you how much that could help me out this year. Things just kindof happened, and suddenly, whoops! How can I fix that?

I tell myself, that it isn't suppose to happen like that. We learn from our mistakes and from others as well. I am not always clear on why I had to go through certain things, but I am pretty crystal clear that it happened for a reason. Whether I like it or not. God didn't give us a Control Alt Delete button so we would understand and grow from our mistakes.

But, sometimes, just sometimes, it sure would be great to push that button and start over!