Hello, Grandma?

Hi, Folks.

Quick question. When is the last time you've called up your grandma or grandpa just to say hi? If your answer is one that causes shame or guilt, please pick up the phone and finish this blog later.

Baby Teacher lesson of the day: Never EVER take your grandparents for granted.

I don't know if anyone has ever loved me more than my grandparents. I lost my Grandpa Parker, so I can't speak of him in the present tense, but I would have little issue in saying that I was the miniature love of his life. I am sure the same could be said for any of you reading this.

Grandparents are the cute, cuddly people who want to know every minute detail of your life wrapped in between hugs and card games. They want to hear of every personal triumph from a promotion to a successful oil change so that they can brag to every single person who they come in contact with that they do in fact have the most wonderful grandchild in the world. It's the truth. Grandparents have a love for their grandchildren that's impossible to explain. Sometimes I catch my grandma just staring at me with the cutest smile on her face. She asks me a 101 questions (even though I see her almost daily) because cares more than anything that I am happy and successful.

Don't take these people for granted. Don't let weeks pass without communicating with them. Tell them you love them. Share your stories. Visit them just because. Bring dinner and watch "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" or "Bonanza" with them. They want nothing more from you than time because they know that their time is becoming even more precious.

Looking back on my life, I missed a lot of parties, nights out with friends, or time that I could have been using to find Mr. Right, but I spent countless hours putting together puzzles, playing cards, baking bread, watching TV, and laughing with the people who own each tiny ounce of my heart. I'll never regret the time with them.

Pick up the iPhone. Call now. :)

Go do good things,

BT

Lessons from the Bottom

There is little in life that I hate more than losing or failing at anything that I try. I'll admit it. I can put on a smile and tell the other person or team that they did a nice job, but I am seething inside. (Note: This does not count for my brother.) However, I am a sucker for learning lessons. I know I am supposed to learn something from everything I do, and, unfortunately, the most important lessons are learned through tragedy or defeat.

Baby Teacher is here to say you all should join me in searching for the messages and life lessons not when we are flying high but when we have hit the bottom.

"Why did this happen to me? This isn't fair." I think it would be impossible to find a person who has not uttered either of these phrases. Sometimes life is not fair. I can't argue that, but I can and will argue that we are supposed to see or understand something if we take the time to wipe our eyes and pay attention. Each of us needs the moments where we have been knocked down to see the fight each of us has within us. We need to see the strength that maybe we didn't know we possessed. To know how much you can take and still move forward is a true gift.

Besides learning one's own strength, I think some of the other most important lessons to learn are appreciating what you have and learning who truly supports you. We have a tendency of overlooking and taking for granted all of the wonderful blessings we have. When something is taken away from you, it is time to look around and appreciate what you do have. Likewise, notice who sticks by your side when everything crumbles around you. It is easy to be friends with someone when she has an abundance of success, but who is going to stick around when things are in shambles? That's a true friend, and those are the people we need to hold on to for dear life.

Wallow in pity for a day if you need to, but please remove yourself and try to find the lesson. I promise it is worth it.

Go do good things,

BT

Be...

Hello,

Bed is calling my name shortly, but I have a tiny itch to write tonight. Since I am blessed to have some of the world's most incredible people in my life, I'd thought I write a quick post about how to be like the lovely friends and family who make my life much brighter.

Be willing to do as much for others as they would do for you.
Be trustworthy.
Be able to laugh at yourself.
Be someone who makes others laugh.
Be there for others in good times and in bad.
Be willing to admit when you're wrong and apologize.
Be positive and don't suck the life (and fun) out of situations.
Be ready to dance at all times.
Be a kid at heart. Never lose that infectious playful nature and innocence.
Be spontaneous. Don't live your life in a box.
Be happppy!
Be helpful even when not asked.
Be genuine.
Be a difference maker.
Be influential.
Be the one who listens more than speaks.
Be good to your grandparents.
Be quick to shell out compliments and praise. Hold back unnecessary criticisms.
Be understanding.
Be kind.
Be you.

Just be a person that others want to be around. There is too much negativity and despair in the world; we do not need to add to it. Always find the good in every situation, as this is the key to life. Anyone can find the downside to every single aspect of life. A great person always hunts for the positives. Be one who adds to life, not takes away from it.

Go do good things,

BT

Do What's Right for You

Hello,

I have greatly missed writing my posts, but I have not had much extra time lately. I decided it was now or never.

I have been inspired for this post by a former student of mine who turned to me for some advice on a big life decision. While sparing the details for the sake of anonymity, I found myself  impressed with the strength and maturity this young lady exhibited during this hard time. The decision basically boiled down to sticking with something that she loved and had done her whole life or staying in a situation that was ruining who she was and taking away her happiness. Now, it may seem easy for you to make this decision, but there were many factors that made this the hardest decision that she ever made. The biggest fear she faced was the fear of failure.

Here is what I have to say about that:

Failure is not walking away from something when it hurts you.
Failure is not standing up and demanding to be treated fairly.
Failure is not wanting more for yourself.
Failure is not looking out for yourself.
Failure is letting people make you feel inferior and afraid.
Failure is not ensuring your own happiness and sanity.

I am fully aware of the stigma of being a "quitter." I have an intense emotional fear of it myself, but there are times when one must walk away from things or people who were/are a valued part of life. There are times when even things/people who you love are just not right anymore. No one should ever consider you a failure for quitting anything or anyone who causes you pain. If there are people who do, they are not a necessary part of your life. Those who love you will understand and support you.

You are the only one who is ultimately in control of your peace of mind and happiness. You can't allow others to take the reigns. People will take you for spins and loops that often leave you out of sorts. You have to know what you need and demand it. When faced with a tough decision between two things, never worry about failure. Worry about your personal health. Worry about you.

Go do good things,

BT

Breathe. Believe. Battle.

Hi,

The likelihood of me having any type of scheduled postings for the next few months is slim to none. I apologize in advance, so I will try to make the few that I get in worth the read!

More and more, I find many of the people that I know (including myself) struggling to stay afloat with all of life's obligations/difficulties. The mounds of work that needs to get done daily or just unforeseen troubles leaves behind it a blanket of stress and exhaustion that often feels overwhelming. If it isn't something at work, it is something at home or something with a group you may be involved in. No matter what, you're being pulled in 10 different directions and are unable to get your head on straight.

I have some advice for everyone that I am trying to always keep in mind. Breathe. Believe. Battle.

In those moments where you may feel like giving up or that you just can't deal with much more, it is crucial to stop and calm down. We are never given more than we can handle, even though it seems as though we are pushed to our limit many times. In these instances, take my advice. Breathe. Stop and take a deep breath. Try and calm yourself if even just a bit. Forget past mistakes and clear your mind. Believe. Believe that you can do anything that is needed of you. I've always been told, "It always gets done." It is true. Somehow we always get finished what needs to be finished or overcome any calamity thrown at us, so we have to always make sure that we keep that in mind. Believe that you can do anything. Lastly, Battle. Dig in and chip away at the mound of tasks that lies ahead or battle the pain that lies before you. Don't fall apart because the task looks daunting. A true test of character finds itself in moments of overwhelming adversity. Are you going to fold and throw in the towel? Or are you going to battle back and push to succeed? Battling makes you strong. Strength is invaluable.

I may be young and inexperienced in many of life's lessons, but I have faced the struggle of taking on too much or facing a situation that seems insurmountable. I have felt that feeling of inability to rise to occasion or simply getting it all done and done the way it should be. Many of you, just like me, need to breath, believe, and battle. You're stronger than you know.

Go do good things,

BT

Empower Others

Hi,


I recently attended a state coaching conference. (Imagine a kid in a candy store...that was me.) Anywho, John Kessel, a representative from USA Volleyball, was the keynote speaker. At one point, Mr. Kessel said that boys are player empowered, and girls are coach empowered. Cue Oprah's Aha Moment.

Why is it that girls need approval from others instead of themselves? Most girls need to be told what to do and when to do it even if they are capable of figuring out everything on their own. When we make a mistake, we look for guidance. When we do something well, we look for the ever necessary thumbs up.

We need to make all females self empowered. Yes, there are times that we need help when we are unsure, and it never hurts to get a pat on the back, but teaching girls to figure out issues themselves and instill intrinsic motivation will be something that sticks with them all their lives. We are not helping anyone by taking their personal power away. There will be times when all one has to turn to is him or herself. It will be in those desperate times that this will be crucial. The truth is that we don't NEED anyone in our lives; we WANT them. All we truly need is our self and a little bit of gumption.

Breathe. Believe. Battle. That's what need need to all remember. No matter what the situation or how tall the obstacle, we all need to take a breath, believe we can do it, and then battle it out. The reward is so much sweeter when we do it on our own.


Go do good things,

BT

Find the Meaning

Hi, all.

It's crazy that August is just a few days away. I can't quite figure out where summer went. I think this will be a line I find myself repeating each year until I retire.

I had an "Aha moment" yesterday due to a much needed text conversation with an amazing friend. I was detailing my busy upcoming schedule, and I told her that I no longer had a life. She then said, "It has new meaning now." It was like someone slapped me and knocked some sense into me.

We all have so much going on in our lives. It is constant and sometimes overwhelming, but it is something that we must choose to embrace. Our lives are constantly changing whether that is because of relationships, work, or family. Change, while sometimes scary, is good for all of us. Every new turn or change adds new meaning in our lives. We only live once. It's important to put everything we have into the people and aspects of our lives that mean the most to us.

My advice today is to always find the meaning in every thing that you do. Finding the meaning makes all the time and effort you put into the many aspects of your life worth while. If you don't find the meaning, you'll end up resenting everything and being miserable. Likewise, don't waste your time on things or people who you can't find true meaning in. Our time is precious and should only be given when it is important.

Yes, my free time will be hard to locate for the next few months, but my life is full of meaning now. I am ok with my time being monopolized by a group of young ladies who have the same goal as I do. It is all worth it. Big thanks to my incredible friend for helping me see the light.

Go do good things,

BT