What I Make...or Who I Am?

*begin soap box rant*

"To laugh often and much, to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children, to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends, to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others, to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch.....to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!" -Ralph Waldo Emerson
My father in law recently re-introduced me to one of my favorite videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU&feature=share

Obviously this video is very inspiring to me as an educator. But its also very inspiring to me as a person.

Unfortunately, the older I get, the more I feel like what I "make" is judged by others. First of all, you have to be quite the ass to do such a thing. Secondly, its really not anyone else's business.

Last, but certainly NOT the least....if that's what you deem important in this life...then you have my pity.

You have all read my blogs about the difficult time I'm having finding a job and starting my career. Its like a dying car that I cannot seem to jump no matter how hard I try. While this is discouraging, and disappointing, I will no longer allow it to define me.

I have many blessings to count in my life...and to me, they are the most important kind. A loving spouse, supportive family, and caring friends. My husband and I are in good health and want for nothing. 5 years after our first date (almost!), we are still madly in love and hate to be separated for any length of time.

Really, I think what matters in life has nothing to do with money and everything to do with how you treat people and the kind of impact you leave on the lives you touch. As a teacher, this concept is pretty damn important to me. In fact, I think if you are a teacher and this isn't what's important to you, then you are in the wrong job field.

So this is my soap box for the week. It's been on my mind a lot lately, and I needed to get this off my chest. Life is too short to worry about things like how much money we can make while we're here. When focusing on how best to impact the lives of those around you is much more rewarding at the end of the day.

*end soap box rant*