lainformacion.com - Medio Oficial de los Premios Bitacoras 2009
My Dear 2nd Years
I haven’t had much chance to catch up with you over the last two months and before I look around you will be gone and heading back home. I like to have a farewell breakfast before the exams but it wasn’t possible this year. Looking back over the past two years, I have fond memories of our classes: the in-depth discussions; the jokes and two-way learning that took place. I hope you enjoyed the classes as much as I enjoyed teaching you. I wish you success in all your future endeavours. I found this noteworthy quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson for you to ponder over now and whenever you’re reflecting on the
meaning of success. I also have a heart-warming story of a 92-year old woman and how we can learn from her that being happy is often up to us.
“ To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
to appreciate beauty;
to find the best in others;
to leave the world a little better;
whether by a healthy child; a garden patch or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier
because you have lived.”
The 92 year old, petite, well poised and proud lady, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o'clock, with her hair fashionably coifed and makeup perfectly applied, even though she is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today. Her husband of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary.
After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, she smiled sweetly when told her room was ready. As she maneuvered her walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of her tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on her window.
"I love it," she stated with the enthusiasm of an eight year old having just been presented with a new puppy.
"Mrs. Jones, you haven't seen the room ... just wait."
"That doesn't have any thing to do with it," she replied. "Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time. Whether I like my room or not doesn't depend on how the furniture is arranged... it's how I arrange my mind.
I already decided to love it. It's a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open I'll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I've stored away just for this time in my life. Old age is like a bank account: you withdraw from it what you've put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories. Thank you for your part in filling my memory bank. I am still depositing."
Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
Take care of yourself and of others. Be ‘happy’ and ‘successful’ the LPCUWC way!
You will be missed at LPC
Your English teacher,
Hayley