I made to school just a few minutes after six. I was ready to work--even without coffee. Turn on my computer. Empty my bag. Enter password in order to sign in. And then it happened: NO INTERNET!! Could this really be happening on this Monday morning?? Even I didn't really believe it. I should have. The black background screen should have made me a believer even before I texted another early arriving teacher.
It did not take me very long to realize that I needed an attitude adjustment pretty quickly, otherwise, the 'no internet' thing was going to ruin my whole day. Thank God for smartphones! I turned to Pandora and blasted some praise songs really loudly in the early morning. I sang along while sorting papers (that I had not planned on sorting, but really needed sorting). How I respond to a situation really was up to me.
I started hearing negative comments as teacher began arriving. The most common phrases were: "No Internet!" "Of course this has to happen on Monday morning." And a few others. I kept smiling. Sorting and making copies for the whole week (as I had printed a few pages at home). I realized that I would just have to wait and see what happens with the Internet later today.
Not much happened with the Internet. But great things happened with people! I had used someone else's computer who for some reason had Internet, to print my needed materials. Went to the printer room only to realize that the printer was NOT working. Network issue.As I was walking back to my room our computer technician stopped to talk with me. He offered his office computer for me to use. (He MUST be on a different network.) Quick walk there, passwords memorized, sign in, type correct URL, download documents, and click PRINT! What a sweet sound that printer was! Thank you M.F!
My presentation went well! No, I did not have a power point (as still no Internet), but I had the sample test items that teachers needed.
When I came home, I realized that this was one of the first times in 2014 that my OLW came into the picture in a very clear way. Today, I had to discover the positive in the negative! Or, maybe I should say, I had to choose to discover the positive in the negative. I saw smiles, understanding nods, offer to use my Principal's iPad if needed, and teachers who indicated that they are willing to help me with our annual ELL testing! Could I have asked for a better day?
What will you do this week to discover the positive in the negative?
I love your word and how it's working out for you! I hope the rest of your week goes just as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Lynn! We survived second day with no working Internet!
DeleteDoes your word discover apply specifically to the positive in the negative? You did a great job uncovering all the positive things that happened as a result of the negative on Monday. Good for you. You will have a great year if you can keep it going.
ReplyDeleteBernadette
Bernadette, I hadn't even thought about my OLW being discovering the positive in negative before yesterday. Somehow it just worked!
DeleteYour story shows the importance of choosing your attitude. There will always be moments of aggravation, but we can discover ways to find our way around it. Way to go!
ReplyDeleteAttitude, yes! Our morning announcements remind us "the choices you make today, shape your world tomorrow."
DeleteAttitude is everything! Glad that things worked out for you. Hope you have a good year of "discovery".
ReplyDeleteThanks Robert! I am off to discovering new blogs today!
DeleteAttitude is everything! Glad that things worked out for you. Hope you have a good year of "discovery".
ReplyDeleteYay! I love how you turned that frown upside down (lol). The line "How I respond to a situation really was up to me." resonates with me and what I see I my own school. What a great discovery! Thank you for sharing the story.
ReplyDeleteAfter two days with no Internet, I think I need to choose my attitude today before I even go to school! It was great to see you link up on Tuesday!
DeleteI think you are one of the few people who is able to discover the positive in no internet. It may have been the attitude change that attracted the necessary help for you. One of the positive discoveries I have noticed on no-internet-days is that people talk to each other more.
ReplyDeleteYou are right Terje, people talk more when they cannot be attached to their electronic devices!
DeleteI love OLW stories like this - your word is certainly present in your life, Jaana!
ReplyDeleteThat is the goal, right. And I really do want to discover more about my OLW!
DeleteLove how you put the day into perspective! I will remember your example.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad your presentation went well despite the glitches in your day. Your attitude made it work and I'm sure it had an impact on others who were still struggling with the negative. Way to live your word.
ReplyDeleteBetsy, living our OLW! That is what it is all about!
DeleteYour attitude shines so brightly in this post....inspiring!@
ReplyDeleteThanks Anita, but sometimes the attitude road takes a few turns before finding the right road!
DeleteThank you for sharing this. It is so important to remember we get to choose our responses! Pandora has musically come to my rescue, too.
ReplyDeletePandora is wonderful! I might need some more music this week if we have more days without Internet.
DeleteKeep choosing to discover, Jaana. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer! Discovering is exciting!
DeleteWow, I could never be at school by 6:00! Good for you! Isn't it funny how it seems like we can't live without the Internet now? Our network went down at school one afternoon last week, and my students and I ended up having such a relaxing, fun class of reading and conferencing instead of going to the lab as planned... it ended up being a gift! Glad you discovered plenty of positives too!
ReplyDelete