Summer Plans

I think this goes without saying, but I am so excited for summer! I enjoy the much-needed mental break from academics, as well as the chance to improve my own life by traveling and taking time for myself.

Some of my travel plans for this summer include:
- Detroit, MI to visit Chris when he's working there
- New York, NY for a vacation with Chris
- Philadelphia, PA-- a quick trip to learn some American history!
- Washington D.C. for a few summer institutes to learn more American history!
- Eagle River, WI to spend a week up at the family cottage on the water
- Kansas City, MO to visit Chris when he is home

Those are my big plans for this summer! I don't include too many Wisconsin plans/trips, but I'm sure there will be a few day and weekend trips in places around the state (I'd really love to go to Door County and Lake Superior this year!). I am so excited to stay busy by traveling and experiencing more of what our great country has to offer.

When I'm not traveling this summer, I hope to do several things around my apartment and to improve myself.
- Start listing some of my lesson plans and worksheets on Teachers Pay Teachers
- Organize all of the bins full of stuff in my closet
- Purge my place of all of the stuff I don't need (my apartment is small, and I really need to start living more minimally)
- Decorate my living space into something that fits my style
- Read at least a few of the books that have been on my summer reading lists over the years
- Plan a few units of my courses, including my new AP class
- Get-- and ride-- a bike around the city!!

And those are some of the "improvement" things I hope to accomplish this summer! Looking forward to a relaxing and productive summer!

Monday Inspiration #2

Happy Teacher Appreciation Week! Tomorrow my school is getting teachers pizza for lunch, and I am very excited! It's definitely the little things in life sometimes.

I enjoyed some of my own "appreciation" time this weekend in northern Wisconsin with my family and friends. Our cabin for the weekend was right on the rushing river, and in the middle of the woods-- such an amazing weekend getaway. Though the weather was cool, we rafted down the Peshtigo River, which was exhilarating. I'd only gone rafting once before, so I was a little bit nervous this time. However, it was amazing! It also gave me a greater appreciation for my state. Though Wisconsin doesn't seem interesting, it is so full of hidden gems and natural beauty that sometimes I can't imagine ever leaving.

I pretty much made this face the entire time...

My motivation for today is to enjoy the simpler things in life-- a weekend away with the people you love, a nice glass of wine with dinner, stopping at a local cheese shop to get a few treats. This weekend truly made me appreciate all of the great things and people I have in my life, even if I don't always value them as much as I should.

One way to discover what your state has to offer is to go to the website "Only In Your State." I like to look at potential destinations, activities and restaurants here.

Monday Inspiration #1

I think I was probably the last person to discover TED Talks on the internet. But I love watching them. Sometimes I'll put on a TED Talk and then another, and then another... until my whole evening is gone! I watch TED Talks to learn about topics on which I know little, and on topics I want to broaden knowledge I already have. I highly recommend watching TED Talks that interest you.

I've decided that on Mondays I'm going to post something that inspired me from the week before. I hope that by sharing my "Monday Inspiration" you will be inspired to learn more about a topic that you're passionate about.

Today's Inspiration is a TED Talk that I found about the longest study on happiness, by Robert Waldinger. The study began in 1938 (he is not a founder of the study...), and follows the subjects' lives for 75 years.

- The first lesson of the survey is that loneliness is toxic-- and fostering connection leads to longer lives.
- The second lesson is that the quality of your relationships does matter. Having good relationships has a major positive impact. "The people who were most satisfied in their relationships at age 50 were the healthiest at age 80." Wow.
- Finally the third lesson is that good relationships protect our brains. Being in a secure relationship with someone you trust leads to stronger brains and greater brain health.

Sure, these results aren't that groundbreaking, but they're proven to be true. While fame and wealth are what we strive for, building our relationships leads to strong positive results that chasing money does not.

This TED Talk inspired me to continue working at the relationships I have with my family and friends, since it will lead to a better life and greater happiness as I get older. It reminded me of what's important in life-- not money, not fame, but happiness and positive relationships.