'It has to be progress........'
I see that it's more than a month since my last blog post.
Since then we've had a lovely foreign holiday in Austria,near Salzburg.
I was delighted by the beautiful scenery and buildings and welcomed the opportunity to explore...some of the flat bits!.
The sense of culture and also stability was perhaps a little misleading, given the closely fought Presidential election going on nationally in Austria at that time.
I even had a lengthy and enlightening chat with a Bavarian family about their experience of learning English in Germany and the so called Brexit vote looming in GB. The views surprised me.
All in all, a complete change and a bit of an escape, too. I look forward to returning ; I aim to improve my German before then, although we had no problems with our efforts at conversation and which were always appreciated locally!
Back in the UK, I continue to volunteer in a local school. I am enjoying it very much; always tiring, often challenging, yet it has a sense of 'going somewhere', full of young life and a good deal of humour and smiles amongst staff and pupils alike. I'm now looking into training for a new part-time career.
So far, this doesn't produce the same anxiety that has accompanied my former working life. I hope this relief will continue.
Schooling standards are many 'light years' beyond my own young days. Yet, I'm seeing a lot more support for children on a personal level, too. Very positive, rewarding and encouraging of effort and achievement, with a totally different disciplinary system..thank goodness.. to my own long gone experience. Teaching, too, is very hard work for the staff. I think I'll stick to just 'assisting'!
My counselling continues and I feel I'm stronger than I was. Volunteering in school has broadened my life significantly and allows me to see children dealing each day - for better or worse - with their own demanding lives. So, perhaps I'm learning by their example, too.
If I've learnt anything about myself and how to cope in future, it's the following thoughts:
1. Talking, in counselling, about unpleasant memories certainly helps, taking the energy and pain out of them, but I no longer look to others for their apologies.
2. Yoga relaxation, breathing and 'mindfulness' techniques have helped me hugely, to relax and dismiss my negative thoughts , ['come back later when I've more time for you'].
3. We are all different on this planet and there is no 'one size fits all' plan for me.
I can be myself and not feel I've got to imitate anyone else. I'm 'me' , both perfect and imperfect at the same time, constantly changing and aiming to grow.
4. A smile breaks down barriers.
5. Don't take everything or everyone at face value. It seldom is!
Yes, 'It has to be progress!'
Since then we've had a lovely foreign holiday in Austria,near Salzburg.
I was delighted by the beautiful scenery and buildings and welcomed the opportunity to explore...some of the flat bits!.
The sense of culture and also stability was perhaps a little misleading, given the closely fought Presidential election going on nationally in Austria at that time.
I even had a lengthy and enlightening chat with a Bavarian family about their experience of learning English in Germany and the so called Brexit vote looming in GB. The views surprised me.
All in all, a complete change and a bit of an escape, too. I look forward to returning ; I aim to improve my German before then, although we had no problems with our efforts at conversation and which were always appreciated locally!
Strobl , Austria. My photo was taken early one morning.
Back in the UK, I continue to volunteer in a local school. I am enjoying it very much; always tiring, often challenging, yet it has a sense of 'going somewhere', full of young life and a good deal of humour and smiles amongst staff and pupils alike. I'm now looking into training for a new part-time career.
So far, this doesn't produce the same anxiety that has accompanied my former working life. I hope this relief will continue.
Schooling standards are many 'light years' beyond my own young days. Yet, I'm seeing a lot more support for children on a personal level, too. Very positive, rewarding and encouraging of effort and achievement, with a totally different disciplinary system..thank goodness.. to my own long gone experience. Teaching, too, is very hard work for the staff. I think I'll stick to just 'assisting'!
My counselling continues and I feel I'm stronger than I was. Volunteering in school has broadened my life significantly and allows me to see children dealing each day - for better or worse - with their own demanding lives. So, perhaps I'm learning by their example, too.
If I've learnt anything about myself and how to cope in future, it's the following thoughts:
1. Talking, in counselling, about unpleasant memories certainly helps, taking the energy and pain out of them, but I no longer look to others for their apologies.
2. Yoga relaxation, breathing and 'mindfulness' techniques have helped me hugely, to relax and dismiss my negative thoughts , ['come back later when I've more time for you'].
3. We are all different on this planet and there is no 'one size fits all' plan for me.
I can be myself and not feel I've got to imitate anyone else. I'm 'me' , both perfect and imperfect at the same time, constantly changing and aiming to grow.
4. A smile breaks down barriers.
5. Don't take everything or everyone at face value. It seldom is!
Yes, 'It has to be progress!'
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