01. September 2015

The Big Yellow School Bus

As the big yellow school buses again appear on our neighborhood streets, and the school yards fill with the music of children at play, a wave of nostalgia flows through me, recalling my own excitement at the beginning of each new school year. For 45 years I thrilled to the challenges of learning the names of my eager new students and preparing to excite them about communication. Those years are now in the past.

Pursuing our Interests

Smiling to myself, I acknowledge that momentary yearning as I place my boogey board in the back of my Jeep. It isn't the worst thing to pursue new challenges and to have the freedom to do so. But the longing for that other life is tangible and I'm not alone. More than ever my coaching clients are contacting me for help as school starts, perhaps it is a trigger for them, as they too look back on another life they once lived. This is normal, but anxiety may seep in around the edges as we struggle to figure out new ways of living life, especially for the newly retired, the empty-nesters, and the recent widows.

Enjoying Fun Activities

It is up to us to imagine new and meaningful ways to live. Happiness experts teach us to live in gratitude, to take up new challenges and activities, to have something to look forward to. We are in charge and we can choose happiness or desperation, it is up to us.

One of my all time favorite books is Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience, in which the author teaches us to set goals, live in the present, and to immerse ourselves in compelling activities. This requires that we become mindful of our dreams and make the effort to fulfill them. This is our precious time and we need to continue to make the most of it. The Pacific is warmer than usual this summer and there are some waves out there waiting for me. Perhaps they are waiting for you as well. We can choose joy. I would love to hear what you have to say.

Tags: Inpirational, Happiness

Write a comment

Comments: 7

#1
Clorinda Carberry (Friday, 03 February 2017 08:02)

Appreciate this post. Will try it out.
#2
Karol Engel (Friday, 03 February 2017 08:51)

Hello! Would you mind if I share your blog with my twitter group? There's a lot of folks that I think would really appreciate your content. Please let me know. Cheers
#3
Wanda Hartmann (Friday, 03 February 2017 23:03)

I was suggested this web site by my cousin. I'm not sure whether this post is written by him as no one else know such detailed about my problem. You are wonderful! Thanks!
#4
Del Lever (Monday, 06 February 2017 09:13)

Hi there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!
#5
Antonina Gongora (Thursday, 09 February 2017 02:45)

It's awesome to pay a visit this web site and reading the views of all mates about this piece of writing, while I am also eager of getting familiarity.
#6
Johnathan Maggio (Thursday, 09 February 2017 10:35)

Hi, i think that i saw you visited my weblog thus i came to �return the favor�.I am attempting to find things to improve my website!I suppose its ok to use some of your ideas!!
#7
Dacia Freeburg (Thursday, 09 February 2017 14:09)

I'm not sure why but this blog is loading extremely slow for me. Is anyone else having this problem or is it a issue on my end? I'll check back later and see if the problem still exists.

The Big Yellow School Bus

Thank you for stopping by!