The Weekend Tigger

My post called "Childhood realized?" was based on a book I was reading at the time: "The Last Lecture." I do recommend this book ...

A man, dying of pancreatic cancer is asked to give a "last lecture." ... You learn not only about his last lecture but also about how he is living his life. Despite being terminal, he lives each day as a "Tigger." You can either be a tigger or an eeyore in life ... who would you choose to be? Myself, I am going to try and be a Tigger from now on. You only get one life - so why waste it moping around? Sure, I hate my job and we have no friends here in the Memphis area --- but who would ever want to make friends with someone always down and complaining? I have a few new goals because of this book - and I know I can accomplish them ...




1. I am going to be a Tigger. I am going to live each day to its fullest and enjoy and savor every moment possible. Even if it's just another day at work - I will look for opporunities to liven it up -- play with the kids more, teach them something new, make them feel happy to be at school. If I do this for them and with them, it just may help my day go a little better as well.



2. I am going to live in the present. The "what-if's" and "what could have been's" are not going to be a priority. I am going to make each day a day I am proud of.

3. I am going to work hard. I am not just going to do my job - I am going to excel at my job. I am going to do anything possible to make it known I am one of the best in the field. It will take a while and it will mean I cannot be lazy. But I have a dream of not owing money and being debt-free, the only way to accomplish this is to be the best in my field so I can move up quickly (if not move out quickly like I want to).

4. I will be true to myself and others. Enough with the fake attitude that you can sometimes have with coworkers. If someone asks for an opinion I will be honest. Tactful. But honest. Lying or holding back will only make situations worse and do not help anyone involved.

... Most of all: I am going to stick with the job I have for now. I should be happy to even have a job. You do not always get to start at the top making 100K/year. Yes, some might - but the majority of us probably have to work our way up, proving ourselves along the way. No job is beneath anyone (another message from the "Last Lecture) and if that means working below another teacher for a year or so, then fine. I will be fine. I will.

So... these are my goals. Oh, and one more ... talk Dustin into getting a puppy. I was able to start this the past two days by taking him to places where puppies were being sold. First, we went to the Pet Expo - cute little puppies. Too expensive - but they still had puppy breath! Second, we went to the the Memphis Flea Market held once a month. There we saw a little lab/collie mix. Had we been able to hold it I may have a new little puppy right now. Dustin, however, can be very good at holding strong. He knows we cannot have a puppy right now in a small apartment --- SO, the next thing I did was make him drive around. We even stopped by a few houses and picked up flyers ... ;) I'm working on it. I will have a puppy and a house --- in a year? I hope so!

Finally - for the weekend, we took Mr. Bud on an adventure. He travelled outside! There he was terrified. He lay on the ground meowing so loudly, the neighbors probably thought I was hurting him. Then, Dustin started the Mustang. It's not super quiet, so Bud (who is terrified of any noise louder than a fly buzzing by) JUMPED! He pulled at his harness ... wriggling free he ran off. But he knew where he wanted to go... He darted around the garage, up the stairs, to the apartment door ... "MRRUAR." ... He wanted back inside. Fine. Inside he went.

I hope everyone else enjoyed a relaxing weekend. Remember - be Tigger. Enjoy every moment you have because you do not know when your time will be done. You don't want people to look back and think: "If only they had smiled more..."

I am going to be Tigger. Will you?