Set The Tone

For your consideration…..

I substitute teach and I love it. This is a shock to many of my long-term friends and family. With school right around the corner, I am already receiving calls. This adds to my excitement and it also gets me thinking of new ideas and old ones that I love. Some are my originals. Some I have learned from great teachers.

One thing I have learned is that for many students, how their day began has a tremendous effect on their entire day. The thing about it is, so much of it is out of their control. Were they woke up on time, fed a good breakfast, shown love and affection etc. Were they brought to school on time? Most students hate walking in late. They are embarrassed.

I have one teacher that has a meditation tape playing. Students come in and get silent. She has a sign posted on her door that the class is in meditation so anyone that comes in late, enters silently and without notice. When meditation ends, everyone is “on the same page.” No matter what their morning was like before school, they are all now calm and ready to learn.

I wanted to share that example because it is the same for most adults. How our day begins so often is a prelude to how it is going to go for the rest of the day. That is because the energy we are projecting  just keeps flowing back to us. Look at the pictures. How would you rather your day begin?

We are reminded that we have the power to change the energy. Personally, I can not imagine starting my day off without meditation. But if we can not pause to do some meditation, we can at least hit our “reset button” by taking in some deep calming breaths releasing out the negative energy we have swirling around in our head. We can do this anytime or anywhere.

Take control. Set the tone for your day, everyday.

That is the HOPE. And so it is.

Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can take….

-Meditate/pray…ask…”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all.” Remember, we only need to know one step. If we get more, that is great but we only need to know our next one.

-Drink lots of water.

-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.

-Set your “tone.”

What made me smile yesterday…..

-Talking with Jackie.

-Going to the lake with Peanut, AJ and their friends.

-Peanuts FABULOUS monster cookies. I love it. Now I have my 13-year-old giving me recipes.

-Meeting a new friend at the lake.

Love, Blessings and Gratitude,

Rev. Chris