Looking at the melting snowman this morning in comparison to how chipper this miniature iced creation looked yesterday made me think of teaching.

Most days were full of wonder, excitement and pure joy, I posted a lot about those days on social media. Other days were extremely difficult. I didn’t post much about those. Some of the challenges came because I had difficulty engaging my students, some because of misunderstandings with colleagues and some because while all of this was going on, I had personal or physical issues that no one knew I was dealing with. I was the melted snowman directing car line..in the rain. Don’t get me wrong, I loved my job. My students not only talented, but compassionate humans. I felt valued by my administration. I had every material needed to create a successful learning environment for my students, but still..there were those days. What did I do to survive and not stay “frozen” in a state of despair?

I made it a practice of each day that I drove into the parking lot of the school where I spent the majority of my career, to give thanks for my job and the place where I worked. It was a beautiful campus, so that was easy. Being in a state of gratefulness, I parked my car that I had paid off with the salary I earned at my school. I was thankful for that provision. I entered the building with a passkey. I was grateful for the trust given me. As I walked into my classroom, the cleaning crew had dusted the art tables, mopped the floors and cleaned my whiteboard. It was fresh for a new day. Grateful. As I began getting supplies ready for a day of teaching a subject that I had been passionate about since I was a child, I smiled. Grateful. Outside in the hall I could hear to noise of students chatting and laughing and slamming lockers as classes began to change. It was music to my ears. Grateful. I also made it a practice at least once a year to pause class, get my students attention, look around the room at each one of them and then sincerely say, “I have the best job in the world.” Many of my students made a habit of not leaving class before thanking me. Being grateful can be contagious.

Notice the heart of the melting snowman below. Long after the snow has melted, the heart will remain.

Whatever kind of snowman you are today, remember that a heart of gratefulness will help to carry you through these challenging times. Show up, keep the passion, dwell on the good, and never lose heart.