Mondays are tough for humans. The shift from Sunday Scaries to Moody (Miserable, Manic- your choice here) Monday can feel clunky and awkward. It's like our bodies forget how to human every seven days to protect ourselves- much like labor pains or Daylight Savings Time. Monday energy was getting super sticky at my house and in my classroom. Like annoyingly awful. I was spending too much time dreading its arrival, then every hour of the day counting down until it was over. Then I did some math (chill, this math I can do). How was I supposed to spend 14% of my LIFE intentionally miserable? How dare I wake up in this adorable body that breathes and dances and dreams and allow my day to be abducted by feelings of ENNUI!? At first, I was a bit embarrassed. Then, perhaps a bit frustrated with myself. Then, there was simply no more time to waste. Hello, Magical Monday! Its premise? Simple. Treat everything and everyone as if they are pure magic. Wholeheartedly believe that you are going to witness and partake in whimsy today. Did you enjoy a fresh cup of coffee? Sweet! Did you experience a hug from someone you love? Awe... Did you have yet ANOTHER fantasy football victory this week? Yes? WOW! If you're feeling stuck, ask the children in your life. Children are full of magic. Jo used to leave notes and snacks for the fairies, and the fairies (Danny or me) would write back. Jo firmly believed in Santa for forever and the sparkle in her eyes around Christmas was pure joy. She even added her own "Rudolph nose" one year to fully immerse herself in the season (it was red Sharpie, I'd recommend anything other than permanent marker). What's even cooler, though? Jo now recognizes the magic that was shared with her, and insists on doing the same for her younger sister. This season has already been so fun because I get to witness my older babies creating magic for my youngest. So. Magic can happen literally whenever you decide to create it. Don't wait for a "special" day to experience fun and curiosity, and charm. Today is the most special because of YOU!

I'm all about alliteration. And, I love a good theme. Enter Thankful Thursday. We know the research on gratitude. When we express gratitude, we become more grateful, which in turn leads to increased happiness. Gratitude practices may even impact neural pathways related to reward and positive affect, helping build lasting shifts in perspective (Harvard Health, 2021). How simple, right? Eh, perhaps not. Intentional gratitude can feel forced and inauthentic—two things my neuro-spicy brain cannot tolerate. I noticed the same feelings of "fine if I have to" from my students every November when the only things they could think of to be thankful for were their friends and family. Though valid, I was curious how we could push our thinking just a little bit and really find and express gratitude more often. So, how do I find a way to make gratitude feel less forced and more joyful? Around the same time, I noticed our next ELA standard was ‘write a friendly letter’—and it clicked. Gratitude needed a vehicle, and a letter was the perfect fit.” Thankful Thursday was born. Every Thursday, we would spend real time writing thank-you notes to someone in our community. Teachers, custodial workers, veterans, police officers, grown-ups, siblings, friends, and librarians were thanked for their efforts and impact on our students. After a while, I would run out of ideas, and my students stole the show. My very favorite thank-you note was written for a chair (see note below). Thankful Thursday not only helped my students practice their handwriting and craft a note that follows ELA conventions- they were truly engaged in the process and rewired their sweet brains to seek gratitude every day. I've had teachers from schools I used to work at tell me that Thankful Thursday lives on, and that makes my teacher heart so happy. So, who are you thankful for today? Better yet, who will your students/kiddos thank this Thursday? Grab some stationary, your favorite flair pen, and start the ripple.