Giving Thanks!

        As my 8th graders know, I am a huge Jon Gordon fan. We spend part of the year reading pieces of his best-selling book "The Energy Bus" to help us learn the rules and tips to live a positive and healthier life. But as we approach Thanksgiving, Jon Gordon has more great advice and information for us via his weekly newsletter/blog. Our 6th graders even read through an older version of this blog in class. I have placed a link to this blog post below, but a couple of most interesting pieces of information I liked....

 *You cannot experience Gratitude and Stress at the same time. So if you are thinking of things you are thankful and grateful for, you cannot be stressed at that moment!

 *Feelings of gratitude help your body to produce endorphins which, in turn, can help you experience more positive feelings and can help you fight off depression and sadness.

 *And after reading about his idea of a Gratitude Walk, I challenged students to take a Gratitude Walk once a day when they go from one class to the next.


 We wish all of you a Happy Thanksgiving and a safe and joyous Thanksgiving Break. Please read Jon Gordon's weekly newsletter entry this week about the Power of a Thank You (and if you have a Twitter account, follow Jon Gordon on Twitter...always great inspirational quotes and information from him on that platform1)

20 Tips for a Positive 2013

As my 8th graders finish reading Jon Gordon's "The Energy Bus" (a book the new AD at Nebraska University gave to his 300 employees on his first day on the job this week), Jon Gordon updated his Top 20 Tips for a Positive New Year. I am sharing these little by little on our Counseling Facebook page, but if you can't wait to read all 20, here they are. Plus I have linked Jon Gordon's blog at the bottom of this page because he has great positive information all the time on his blog. I highly recommend many of his books as well with my favorites being The Energy Bus and Soup. Happy 2013 everyone!

Jon Gordon's 20 Tips blog post click here!

Jon Gordon's blog homepage click here!

1. Stay Positive. You can listen to the cynics and doubters and believe that success is impossible or you can trust that with faith and an optimistic attitude all things are possible.

2. Take a morning walk of gratitude. I call it a “Thank You Walk.” It will create a fertile mind ready for success.

3. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.

4. Zoom Focus. Each day when you wake up in the morning ask: “What are the three most important things I need to do today that will help me create the success I desire?” Then tune out all the distractions and focus on these actions.

5. Instead of being disappointed about where you are, think optimistically about where you are going. {Tweet This}

6. Remember that adversity is not a dead-end but a detour to a better outcome. {Tweet This}

7. Don’t chase success. Instead decide to make a difference and success will find you. {Tweet This}

8. Get more sleep. You can’t replace sleep with a double latte.

9. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.

10. Mentor someone and be mentored by someone.

11. Live with the 3 E’s. Energy, Enthusiasm, Empathy.

12. Remember there’s no substitute for hard work.

13. Believe that everything happens for a reason and expect good things to come out of challenging experiences.

14. Implement the No Complaining Rule. Remember that complaining is like vomiting. Afterwards you feel better but everyone around you feels sick.

15. Read more books than you did in 2012. I happen to know of a few good ones. : )

16. Don’t seek happiness. Instead decide to live with passion and purpose and happiness will find you. www.Seed11.com

17. Focus on “Get to” vs “Have to.” Each day focus on what you get to do, not what you have to do. Life is a gift not an obligation.

18. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements:
I am thankful for __________.
Today I accomplished____________.

19. Smile and laugh more. They are natural anti-depressants.

20. Enjoy the ride. You only have one ride through life so make the most of it and enjoy it.

-Jon

Great Video on Power of Belief and Positive Mindset

   This video shows you the science and studies behind having a positive and hard working mindset as opposed to just being good at something. Fascinating stuff and makes me think of the words I say to my own kids and my own students and how much power they truly have. I hope in 2013 I can empower students and my own kids to continue to get better instead of becoming fixed in their current mindset.

Positive Attitude is Everything: The Video I Started My Year With

    Got lots of rave reviews from students this year on the video I started all of my 6th and 8th grade classes off with. Even a few parents emailed to say that their child showed them and they loved it to. I have embedded it below so everyone can enjoy it (or enjoy it again?). I have seen this video over 30+ times now over the last two years and the message gets to me every time. In middle school and in adult life, we have to learn to laugh at ourselves and what life offers. And we need to view life through a positive lens. Life is not always good, but how we perceive these things determines the outcome. Those who perceive it negatively will likely get a negative outcome. Those who look at the bright side, might find that the event is not so bad and might even find some good that can come from it. My students have learned very quickly that my main focus is living life with a positive focus. I don't see any reason to be negative....no good comes from it. So I am hoping that rubs off on my students this year. If not, as Sam Glenn says, I might just fall on you! (See video to understand what that means!!)

Don't Always Believe What You Hear: The Power of Negative....and Positive Words

I know, I know...reality shows like American Idol, Biggest Loser, and X-Factor always try to find the feel-good stories, but this one truly is a good story. As a counselor, I am drawn to the words this lady speaks at the beginning. She didn't follow her passion and dreams because someone she loved and respected told her she wasn't good enough. When she finally stopped listening to him and listened to her heart (and hopefully other close friends), she decided to give her dream one more shot. And it wasn't easy, but finally, we get to see her one shot. And she doesn't disappoint. Watch the video below. It is 8 minutes of your day that could change you. In fact I hope it changes us all. This week, don't say negative things to others....be a dream producer. Be the person who got this lady on stage. Change someone's life.

Small Things Can Make a Big Difference!

Have to thank Larry Ferlazzo and his Websites of the Day for a quick blog he made with this comic strip. He made a great point: You never know what might make a difference in a teenager's daily life, but it could be pretty small. So....as parents, teachers, friends, loved ones, we need to keep doing the little things that might make someone's bad day become a slightly better one.