The Art of Maintaining Sanity

Struck me kinda funny seemed kind of funny sir to me
How at the end of every hard earned day people find some reason to believe


(This is "The Boss??????")

---Bruce Springsteen

I am currently struggling with the art of maintaining sanity.  Forget the art of garnishing zucchini pancakes or the art of arranging my herb garden.  I just need to make sure that I wake up every day clothed in my own mind. 

Three weeks ago I returned to my job as a reading specialist at a middle school.  My own kids also returned to school.  (And all God's people said - "AMEN.")  It feels like all my creativity has been leached into the business of organizing reading levels, packing lunches, and filling out forms.  

I have dragging myself through each day, but it hasn't been much fun.  I have watched a lot of Oprah in my 45 years and know that you get back what you put out.  So, I am careful not to say things like, "I am really tired" (instead I say, "I am waiting for my 2nd wind.") OR "I need to go buy more make-up" (instead I say, "I am beautiful even with dark circles under my eyes.").  Truth? I am exhausted and need to apply concealer with a trowel.  

Yesterday was the worst.  It was 6:57 AM and I was driving to work, already waiting for my 2nd wind.  I had spent too much time the night before listening to Rachel Maddow talk about Syria.   The question looping through my mind was, "Does anything I do really matter?"  That was when grace showed up.  Right when I needed it (after unlocking my classroom door) and in the correct amount.

A co-worker had left a sweet note for me on my desk.  Next to the note was a paper cone of homemade sugared almonds (And I would like to pessimistically point out that sometimes grace goes out to lunch and doesn't come back.  I didn't get a single sugared almond...and it was my birthday.).  Not five minutes later, a friend (Guest Blogger Lena!) came in with a large pile of burlap (This is grace?  Who but Eydie would find grace in burlap?).  After a marketing telephone call with Prairie Sherry, I have been wanting to make little burlap "pillow cases" for the Prairie Grlz collages.  BUT, I wasn't sure where to buy burlap or if the burlap would smell funny or how much it would cost or if it was a good idea or if I could make them with a hot glue gun since I can't sew . . . .  Problem solved (and I can sew and I do have a sewing machine).  Let the non-smelly burlap experiment begin.  The frosting?  Later in the day, a friend bought one of my Nancy Drew collages.

Wow.  Three reasons to believe. 

Look for the grace that surrounds you!  Better yet - give a teacher some grace and you don't have to wait until Teacher Appreciation Week. (For those of you who don't know, it is in May - you can mark your calendars now.  I know.  I know.  Teachers are SO greedy.) 

Prairie Eydie 
(Prairie Sherry)

P.S.  Here is an Anne LaMott bonus quote for you:  

“Hope is not about proving anything. It's about choosing to believe this one thing, that love is bigger than any grim, bleak shit anyone can throw at us.”  

(P. S. 2
And I would just like to share that I have a couple of "mean girls" this year in my classes who are bound and determined to make me cry.  Bring on the grace, and lots of it.)

(P.S. 3
If you wait until Teacher Appreciation Week, it may be too late for dear Sharon.  The girl needs some sugared nuts.)