Brain Exercise

Writing takes a lot of thinking. It seems I spend a lot of time at my computer, trying to pull out thoughts that sometimes just don't want to come. So, while working, I need to take a brain break from time to time. I look to think about something completely different and maybe use different skills than I have been using.

One way to exercise my brain and focus on different things is through puzzles. I really like to do Sudoku, especially online when it will tell me that a number is wrong and I can correct it. On paper I end up tossing puzzles because I can't find the mistake. These number puzzles make me think and plan and try different things. And I enjoy them (usually). And the best part? If I get too frustrated, I just close it down and go back to work. The doing has helped me even if I don't get to the solution. (But I'm usually stubborn and keep at it until it's done.)

I also like to take trivia quizzes on Sporcle. I do really well on Bible questions and history and general knowledge. I really do badly on popular music. I'm embarrassingly great at TV shows. I struggle with world geography but clean up on US geography. But even if I try and fail on a particular quiz, it's over in a couple of minutes and my brain is ready to do something else.

This particular joy is small and quick and I can go back to work before too long. (That is if I don't keep clicking on quizzes to take.)

Today's Joy: Quizzes and puzzles for brain breaks.

Adventures in 1-derland

As the music teacher for Mothers Day Out, I get to lead musical activities with all ages of preschoolers. This includes the 1-year-olds. Now my musical activities are simple for this age group. I go to the classroom with a CD player, simple rhythm instruments, and bubbles.

One-year-olds are an interesting lot. At the beginning of the year, most are skittish. They stare at me and keep their distance. I may be able to coax them closer with an egg shaker or tambourine, but they will take it and then move quickly out of reach.

Even now some are still a little stand-offish. They are more comfortable with me being there but still keep their distance. Others welcome me to the room and walk to where I normally sit, just waiting for me.

Today in the ones' room, I sat down and handed out shakers. The kids began to shake them before I started the music. We shook shakers and sang. Some wandered the room; others sat right next to me or stood close by.

One little guy sat with shakers in hand and stared at me. He didn't shake his eggs, just held them. He watched everything I was doing. This guy just started again at MDO this January. He was upset in the fall and everyone decided he needed a little more time for adjustment. He still cries when he's dropped off, but he stops fairly quickly and has adapted to the routine.

When I pulled out the bubbles today, everyone pressed in. I blew bubbles and they chased them and popped them. The little guy came and stood right next to me. He opened his mouth each time the bubbles flew into the air. (Maybe he was trying to catch them on his tongue? I don't know.) I talked to him and the others near me as I blew the bubbles.

Then he began to babble softly to me. I don't know what he said. But he talked! The first time he has spoken to me and one of the few times I've seen him so engaged (so far). My smile was wide.

I had some great conversations with several 1-year-old friends, including this new friend. I decided there's not much more joy than a 1-year-old deciding you are okay and talking to you.

Today's Joy: Music and bubbles with 1-year-olds

Small Impacts

As a teacher of young children, I often wonder if anything I say or do is making impact. Young kids don't give you much feedback and many times you don't see the growth.

I know the kids in music class are enjoying themselves and they laugh at my silliness. They sing and move and play instruments, all good and fun things. But I still I wonder if what we say and do is of any consequence or impact.

On the mornings I'm at MDO, I usually stand by my door and say hello. Some look at me but don't say anything; some wave; some say good morning. (And those are just the parents.) But at times a child will call me by name or tell a parent who I am or just smile and wave as if they are glad to see me.

Today I greeted kids as they arrived. One dad carried his daughter down the hall. I said good morning and they walked by. The girl looked at me over Dad's shoulder. I heard her say, "That is...." I didn't hear the rest as they moved away. As I watched, the girl kept talking. Then she opened and closed her hands repeatedly, in a rhythm. For the past couple of weeks, we've been singing and "Open, Shut Them" song, opening and closing our hands. I immediately recognized what she was doing. Hmm. Maybe something stuck.

Later, after 3s had come to music, I walked down the hall to one of the classrooms. I heard the teacher say, "Trumpet and fiddle and bass drum?" They were talking about one of the instrument songs that we sing. Those are some of the featured instruments we pretend to play. When the teacher saw me, she said they were telling her all about the songs they sang.

I get joy from leading these preschoolers in music. But today, I received even more joy, joy that our time together has made some small impact on them.

Today's Joy: Evidence that what I'm doing matters

Revisiting a Past Joy

I love to read. For as long as I can remember, reading has been my favorite pastime. I can read just about anywhere and in spite of just about anything. I love libraries and bookstores. In fact, I can just go and sit in them and enjoy myself, soaking up all the knowledge floating around me.

When I was a kid, I would reread the same books over and over. I don't know if I couldn't find new books to read or if I just enjoyed the familiar. But I read some books 7 or 10 or more times over the course of my childhood.

Now, it seems, I'm in some sort of undeclared race to read as many different books as I can. I just finished my second book of the year (and I'm mired in a third one that is a good history of Panama Canal but just not very quick to read). In the spirit of exploring joy and including my favorite hobby in that, I decided to reread something. Not just a book that I've read before but a book that I enjoyed reading when I was a kid.

I know the danger of destroying the memory by reading it again. But nothing could take away the joy that I had then and I will discover something new now when I read it, even if I don't enjoy it as much.

So I'm spending my reading time today (and tomorrow if needed) to read The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary. I'm sure that this past joy will deliver again, even if just for nostalgia.

Today's Joy: Exploring a book I enjoyed as a kid

Behind the Scenes

Feelings are quite a rollercoaster. Well, for me they often are. Yesterday I experienced several things that gave me joy and made me smile. Last night I got a message that I didn't need to teach music today and, while I love doing that, the thought of unexpected time off did make me happy.

Then this morning I read a message that wiped away those happy feelings. Nothing tragic but some changes that make me sad. After all, what I've discovered this month is that the smaller things are usually the ones that impact a lot - on either side of the joy coin. Then I got a later start than I expected; again, not tragic but it unsettled my "plans" for the day. I wondered what may bring an upswing to my mood.

Then I remembered that today is my day to do something "behind the scenes." Each week I get to help out in a way that almost no one knows about. I'm not going to tell you what that is because...well, that would defeat the "no one knows" thing. This particular action takes no real skill and not a lot of time. It's really not that big of a deal. It is something that someone else would need to do and it is beneficial to others (that may not even recognize it).

I don't write all this cryptic stuff to make myself look good. I write it because I realized how much joy this particular action gives me. As I do it today, I know it's helpful and appreciated and necessary. And doing it gives me great joy.

Today's Joy: A helpful unseen action

A Joyful Day

Today has been full of joys. It's my birthday and I have received so many notes and mentions on Facebook, a few texts, cards and notes, and verbal good wishes. Each one makes me smile and helps me see how many different people I connect with regularly.

When I got up this morning, everything was dusted white with snow. Enough snow to cover the grass but not so much that everything shut down. (That's what happens here in Nashville area when snow is involved.) Now...at the end of the day...most of it is gone so it was like a present just for my birthday.

Kids in my classroom made me a card. It started out as a secret project with Cindy and the kids. But when I walked around the room, they would shout, "Don't come over here!" It's hard to have a secret project with five-year-olds. But I did not see the card at all until they presented it to me. I love it. Nothing says "Happy Birthday!" like hand-drawn pictures from little ones.

I went to handbell practice, something that always gives me joy. A couple of my fellow players picked out "Happy Birthday" for me on the bells. It made me smile bigger and bigger as they played it.

Cindy made me a chocolate cake. So now I get to enjoy some of it. And probably some of my favorite snack, too - popcorn with peanut M&Ms.

It's been an epic day - a day full of joy. And a friend sent me an epic birthday song.




Today's Joy: Lots of birthday fun

Childhood Joys That Last

One thing the past couple of weeks has reminded me is that joys in each of our days are usually the smaller things. My attitude and my attention to the small things has shown me more times that I have joy than times I don't. This is another of those small things.

It is interesting to me the way tastes or foods you enjoy change over time. As a kid, I didn't like broccoli or strawberries. I enjoy both now - not at the same time. In fact, strawberry ice cream is now at the top of my list of ice cream to get. I once ate a medium rare steak as a kid and absolutely hated it. While I do prefer my steak more well-done, I don't mind some pink (or even a little red) in it now. As a kid I liked to eat circus peanuts (those marshmallow things); now not so much. I sometimes ate mayonnaise sandwiches as a snack when I was younger; I haven't eaten one of those in...well, forever. (And haven't wanted one either.)

Some things stay with you throughout growing up. I still do not eat raisins or spinach or sauerkraut. I love Oreos - but not the "fake" ones or the ones that masquerade as Oreos in different flavors.  I could go on but I won't. I like some good Tex-Mex whenever I can get it. And I can eat carrots (raw or cooked) but the handful. (Yay! A vegetable!)

The joy I thought about today are some snacks that take me right back to the joy I had as a kid. Snack cakes, especially Little Debbie treats, are things I enjoyed then and things that make me smile now. I'll buy some oatmeal pies or Nutty Buddies to have in my office - for those times when I need a snack to boost my thinking and creativity. I must eat in moderation but I do enjoy a boost from those little cellophaned treats.

Today's Joy: Childhood treats that still deliver some joy today.