Community Chat

[bmorechick]

@monicakm  And you're a woman...strongest species on the planet in my mind!

[Burnsite]

This isn't a criticism of this upbeat thread at all, but I think I can say I am not proud of anything. I am grateful.

I've always done my best, and as a long time teacher, I don't think I've ever beem mean.  Always gave the option of rewrites when papers were not quite where they should be.  Loved my job, loved my students.  I've taught at six universities and loved every minute.  Well, ALMOST every minute.  Very few conflicts, none of them with students.

But as I look back as an older person, mainly what I feel is a surge of gratitude.  For my good luck with so many things (my paremts. my wonderful siblings and friends, and the abillity of my body to survive--through everything from kidney failure to melanoma).  Medical interventions saved my life two or three times in years when I had a lot of medical issues.

And my good friends and colleagues---and students!--kept me feeling supported and appreicated.  I dont take it for granted. 

Added:  I was at a conference recently and a young woman came up to me and said  "Don't you recognize me?"  I am almost legally blind, so of course I didn't know her.  She gave me her name, and I jumped up and said, "Oh, Jessie [not her real name], you grew up!"

Teaching is way out of fashion these days, but it affords a wonderful life if you happen to love helping (or at least trying to help) young people. 

[Rose429]

@JoyFilled Warrior @I am very proud of my mom. She raised 3 children after my father died when I was 5. She dropped out of high school to care for her younger brother when they were left by their mother. She was so strong. She saved enough money to get us into a home of our own. I don't ever remember her complaining. We were raised to work hard and be grateful. She got her GED when she was 48. She passed from cancer at 65 and it was the most heartbreaking time of my life. I miss her everyday. I lost a part of my heart that day. Her values helped me raise 2 loving, sweet kids. She allowed me to rescue every kind of animal when I was young and I still do. 

[bmorechick]

@monicakm   I don't know what Naked & Afraid is, but I wouldn't wanna be neither!  I can bet the women are rolling their eyes at the men - I mean who doesn't 😏

[magicmoodz]

@Burnsite 

This world would be a better place if there were more people like you!

[Catiele]

My marriage and of course my husband. Second my two great grandsons. I love ❤️ them. They are so much fun and the cutest little guys ever. I have to say my granddaughter has her hands full. Today she has to work and take care of them. Both moms are there for her. I now know how fortunate I was to be home with my babies.

[PINKdogWOOD]

I'm most proud of myself who picked herself up by the boot straps and moved out of my parents' house at age 22 with a mere $76.00 in my pocket. I found a cheap apartment to keep myself safe in, found a job to pay the rent and buy food. I'm 71 now, husband, own my home. We are surviving, I am his care giver wich is something I never thought I had everything inside of me to do this job 8 days after I retired from an okay job of 36 years. Been doing this now for 11 years now for him and with him. 

[Marp]

Learning when to "sit on my hands" and keep my thoughts to myself.

Learning to pick my battles and which ones are truly important not just self serving.