You've got to be the change...

Ghandi said, "You've got to be the change you want to see in the world."
That statement really speaks to me as a person who works with little people on a daily basis and as someone who is trying to raise a little person. Preach and lecture all day long, but if you really want to see results, you have to be an example.
So, I've taken Ghandi's words to heart, but on a smaller scale. I'm working now to be the change I want to see in MY world. My classroom, my home, my family.
Last week I wrote about a dream I had that really shook me up. Not in a bad way. I sort of felt it was a "call to action". Ever since I had that dream I've made some changes.
First, I've been sorting our trash for recycling and bringing my own bags to the grocery store. Baby steps to make the world a little greener. In the past I've always been a "throw it all in the trash because once it leaves my house it isn't my problem anymore" kind of person. But now that I have a child it suddenly seems so important to teach him to take care of the earth as much as he can. I do this for him.
The next big change has been diet and exercise. I've been on a diet/exercise program for two weeks now and I have to say, I do feel tons better already! Not necessarily seeing the results I want on the scale yet, but I do have more energy and I feel better about myself. It isn't easy to overcome a lifetime of laziness, but it's important to me. I'm hoping that my enthusiasm about this will rub off on my husband... only time will tell.
Finally, I've been putting in extra effort at work. I've always done my job fairly well, but if I'm honest with myself I know that there are a lot of things I could improve upon. One problem I have always had in life that affects my work is that I lack focus and organizational skills. I tend to daydream and go off on tangents. I have a rather lackadaisical approach to life which, while it has always worked for me, it rubs off on my students and it isn't particularly helpful to them. Thre are things they need to know beyond the curriculum. Life skills, time management, responsibility...I've really been working hard this year to hold myself to a higher standard so that I can in turn hold them to a higher standard. Seems weird that I've been teaching ten years and I just now understand this.
So that's what I've been up to. One day at a time, being the change.