Current Events

So today is Monday. My regular teaching day at school. After a morning full of four singing lessons across the grades (which I thoroughly enjoy) We began a new art assignment in the afternoon with the grade 6 and 7s.  Our art theme for the next 2 weeks is "Expressionism" . The kids were very keen to be allowed to paint anything they wanted (as long as it was meaningful to them, I stressed) and I tried to get across the message that they needed to infuse as much emotion and feeling into their painting (through colour and line/shape etc) as they could, so that in a way, their subject was exaggerated. We looked at examples, and talked about Van Gogh, and Munch’s "The Scream", and also had a quiz on colour. Much to my surprise my students have actually learned more than I thought they had! I have told them the colour wheel they have made (and I laminated for them) is like their BIBLE and that it will help and guide them in amazing ways.

I have a prize chest, with lots of cool prizes…they get raffle tickets for showing interest/learning/answering questions during quiz time etc. They love this, and while I’m not a fan of reward-based learning (materialistic) I don’t think I’m doing any real harm (and some of my prizes are educational).

I had an amazing blessing today. The principal approached me and asked if I’d like to do a real life art project with the kids – painting an entire wall of an exterior building. I jumped at the idea and felt so priviledged to be given this opportunity. Now to decide (with the class) what we shall paint. Hmmm….

I have been counting my blessings lately. I really am grateful for so many things. I can’t understand why my stubborness is taking hold in terms of my lack of recovery. I had a heart assessment and ECG done the other day and there are signs of some abnormalities in my St-T depression (which I’m told is when the heart muscle relaxes) which could be caused by potassium and calcium imbalances. When I was in hospital I repeatedly had low calcium but I haven’t had a blood test done for a while. I finally have found a general medical practitioner (family doctor) after searching for months and effectively visiting many in order to glean out who I might grab to be "my" doctor. I have seen lots. I saw a really thorough, interested, and insightful young lady (early 30s) the other day and have decided she’s the one.  I will see her weekly given my current degeneration.  I asked her for a blood test (will get it done tomorrow) and she encouraged me to take my Prozac again (she said it would help me sleep). My sleeping situation has gotten worse, and I am trying to not get to the stage of taking sleeping tablets everynight. At the moment it’s every second night, and the night I don’t take them is not an easy night (not least because of rebound intense (horrible) dreams I get).

Anyway I’ve been getting chest pain. Last Wednesday night it was quite bad I was considering going to an after hours doctor or the ER. I got really upset about it becuase I felt stupid. And scared. And like I was being worried over nothing. Then I got really upset about causing all of this and like….I mean, what else did I expect would happen? If I continue on this path, it’s inevitable.

Anyway it subsided and because I was having the heart assessment on Friday, I didn’t worry too much about getting it checked out. But since then I’ve been getting chest pain everyday. It’s kind of annoying. Worrying. Sigh, I dunno. I don’t seem to be doing anything positive to rectify it. The dietician has me filling out a journal everyday about how I feel to eat or not eat. He said if I come back with an empty journal it means I’ve eaten at every meal. You see, I either eat, or journal how I feel about the food I’m not eating. Yeah, anyway. Not much progress happening. I’m tired of chest pain but I don’t see myself taking calcium or potassium supplements until it gets real bad, and even then, would it help? I dunno.

Anyway, that’s what’s happening at the moment. As well as the weather changing to get warmer.

 Here are some of the things I’m grateful for:

Ø     For the sunlight, and the trees. For nature which never fails to give me a multitude of array of colours. The sunsets, the shadows, the colour that is so visible around me. I just love the atmosphere of the different times of day.

 Ø     For my Dogs, Anna and Meishka, who never fail to bring so much joy, comfort, humour and energy to my life.

 Ø     For a loving Mum and Dad, who care so much it warms my heart, offers security, and makes me think, all at the same time.

 Ø     For a loving partner, who I have made some good groundwork with, in strengthening our relationship. As so has he. He is a wonderful support, with gentle patience, and we are rediscovering our original strengths, talents and uniqueness.

 Ø     For the opportunity to be a parent to Sofie, which I THOROUGHLY enjoy, and which enriches my life in ways I never could have imagined. Children can teach you so many things, and being in this position has offered my life, so much.

 Ø     For my job in teaching, for my passion, and dedication, of which I am proud. I am grateful to finally be able to use it in such a wonderful way – teaching art at the little country school. I have never been happier or more excited. This is truly a blessing.

Okay, going now.

Elizabeth

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Ø     For my Dogs, Anna and Meishka, who never fail to bring so much joy, comfort, humour and energy to my life.

 

Ø     For a loving Mum and Dad, who care so much it warms my heart, offers security, and makes me think, all at the same time.

 

Ø     For a loving partner, who I have made some good groundwork with, in strengthening our relationship. As so has he. He is a wonderful support, with gentle patience, and we are rediscovering our original strengths, talents and uniqueness.

 

Ø     For the opportunity to be a parent to Sofie, which I THOROUGHLY enjoy, and which enriches my life in ways I never could have imagined. Children can teach you so many things, and being in this position has offered my life, so much.

 

Ø     For my job in teaching, for my passion, and dedication, of which I am proud. I am grateful to finally be able to use it in such a wonderful way – teaching art at the little country school. I have never been happier or more excited. This is truly a blessing.

Okay, going now.

Elizabeth