As always there are so many things that make me happy every day! And so many of the things would also make other people happy, if they just stop and think about them, then learned to appreciate them.
Today, stopping in Valley Bank in Highlands made me feel happy about many things, especially professionals who know how to do their jobs and do them well, as well as moms who have raised their children to be creative, innovative and take pride in their jobs. And teachers in general, because I am the mother of one (and grandma, and grandmother-in-law to a couple more.)
Dee Neilson is one of the professionals at Valley Bank, and even though I‘ve come up with some very weird questions for her, some dumb, some not so dumb, she always manages to have the right answer, the perfect solution, the professional way of handling things. And she does it all with a smile, a ton of patience, and an enthusiastic sense of humor. I think they are all requirement to be hired at this bank since they’re all great.
But in the course of conversation, Dee was telling me what an important day it was in her daughter’s life. Her daughter is a teacher in a city school, a school where classes are all the dreaded virtual type. But she loves her work, loves her students, and goes above and beyond to be creative and keep her class attentive and interested. Today was Bring your Pet to School day for her class. So each of the kids was having his and her pet right there beside the computer, to be introduced to all the other virtually visible pets. I thought it was great it made this teacher so happy to see her kids get animated and share their pets, and how creative it was to make a big deal about bringing the pets to ‘class’ seeing how depressed and lonesome today’s children are becoming with the dearth of interaction among them in the ordinary way.
So sharing the happiness that made me feel, I related the story to my daughter, who years ago I recognized is also a very innovative instructor, an enthusiastic teacher and learner and a person who always thinks outside the box. Something I’m sure the Navy helped teach her, or at least honed her skills. She liked the pet story, too, and said through her days of virtually teacher, she frequently sees a wagging tail, or a big paw or a furry back within the screen’s view. So she always encourages a more formal introduction to the rest of the students, and that extra minute of relaxation and praising some one else’s pet adds a level of ease to an entire class. As a regular routine, she also has students do a power point presentation on their pet, or if they don’t have one, on a pet they can imagine the have or love. Captures the imagination, makes a student more creative, more observant, and lets them know that even what might seem to be insignificant is really an important part of their everyday lives. “every kid loves to talk about his pet,” she explained. Or one she has had in the past.
So stop and think for a minute and make yourself happy. What was your favorite pet? Why was it so special? Why did you name it what you named it? Was that your own favorite? For me, I can go back to Chief, or Blarney, or Floppy or Freckles, Chicken and Valentine. But to narrow it down, it has to be Cosmo. The St Bernard who took over the house and was loved by the neighborhood..
