Every day that we awaken is a gift from God. Sometimes we have so much negativity around us that we forget to be thankful for another day to do God's will. We are so caught up in our jobs, our bills, our family problems that we put our JOY on hold. But from this day forward think about all the positive things that exist or have existed in your life. You may have negative people around you now on your job, but remember the positive people who you have met on various jobs; people who were funny, inspirational, talkative and dance in the hallway or at the water cooler.
I always cherish my days of teaching at John McDonogh High School in New Orleans because I had great co-workers and great students. There was never a dull moment and seldom a negative attitude except when we had to get the principal off his high horse. But our students had 'our backs' and we had theirs. We were a family and we laughed,joked,learned and taught.One year we started school with a series of fire drills. Every morning about 8:45, the fire alarm would go off. 1200 student started filing  the down steps of a most cherished ,worn building. My neighbor, another English teacher like myself, would be behind me "What the f...is gong on again this morning? Where is that high flying principal when these students are pulling the goddamn alarms. " We laugh because she is so funny. She teaches Shakespeare with fluency, but she can also speak the vernacular of the streets. Our students mingle together under the Oak trees for shade. It is a warm,humid September day and God has given us a beautiful day to stand on Esplanade Avenue. We talk about the Band Director and the teacher with whom he is talking . Marge  starts again, "look at that ...you can say what you want -those two are going together; she knows he is a player, I never trusted a musician...too many women around them and they don't know how to say 'no'. She continues, I just hope he remembers AIDS is out here because he is the best band director we have had in a long time.  She starts singing this jingle.' Ace of Spades, Deuce of Spades, We Rule Esplanade". We laugh and the students listening to our conversation ,smile and shake their heads.The bells rings for us to return to class. Marge talks as we move up three flights of stairs.'Girl, I am so glad you decided to make coffee in the morning because I don't know how I would make it through the day without a cup of your coffee."
Only in New Orleans can a cup of strong coffee bring JOY!