exhaling, one word at a time.

GNL. "Whatever drop can come out of your cup, it will quench the thirst of many people." - Leafa Taumoepeau

[ginanle]

It’s been a while.

“Nine times out of ten, I'm in my feelings.” 

Struggling to remind myself that the way people treat me isn’t always a reflection of who I am. I am good enough. I do my best. I am worthy of having an abundant life. 

Why does life constantly feel like I’m living in high school? I mean, granted, I teach high school, but I can’t fathom adults doing this passive aggressive shit.

[sandandglass]

[midsummersnightmare]

Drag him to hell and keep him there.

[princechickennugget]

Or maybe home is just two arms wrapped around you when you’re at your worst.

(via danagray)

[obviousplant]

I added some new pet options to my local pet store

[boredpanda]

Fashion Inspired By Nature In Diptychs By Liliya Hudyakova

[lovestoned-perfect]

OH DEAR GOD

[sandandglass]

[damnthatswhack-deactivated20150]

my favorite line from the show

[apsies]

Lesson Pl*nning

In September:

In May:

[teachaz]

My life right now.

[allisonunsupervised]

Too true. 

[teachingtoday]

Very accurate. 

[onlinecounsellingcollege]

It is okay to be at a place of struggle. Struggle is just another word for growth. Even the most evolved beings find themselves in a place of struggle now and then. In fact, struggle is a sure sign to them that they are expanding; it is their indication of real and important progress. The only one who doesn’t struggle is the one who doesn’t grow. So if you are struggling right now, see it as a terrific sign — and celebrate your struggle.

Neale Donald Walsch (via onlinecounsellingcollege)

[armedpublishing]

By Bridget Harilaou

Dear White feminist,

When you lament the gender pay gap of 17.5%, you continually forget that this statistic represents White wom*n – and that wom*n of colour, trans* wom*n and immigrant wom*n experience a gap of 30 – 40%.

When you exclaim how inconceivable beauty standards are, for young wom*n everywhere, you forget that worldwide, beauty is held to a White standard that marginalises the skin colour, body hair, facial features and body shapes of non-white wom*n.

When you attack men of colour for sexist behaviour, and label their ethnicity, as though that information is an essential part of your experience, you use and perpetuate racial stereotypes that hurt all people of colour in Australia.

When you criticise our home countries as “backwards” and “oppressive” you forget all of Australia’s flaws, and tout your egotistical saviourism as if White feminism is the liberator of wom*n across the globe. Reality check: IT’S NOT.

Dear White feminist,

When you are outraged at the portrayal of wom*n in television and the media, you forget that wom*n of colour experience this sexism ON TOP of constantly being type-cast into supporting roles, with ethnic stereotypes and jokes following them everywhere they go.

When you label me as loud, rude and lacking in manners you put White culture in the top of a hierarchy in which my method of communication, manner of eating food and embodiment of culture is inferior – and YOU have the privilege of shutting down this conversation whenever YOU want, because I have spent so many decades being ashamed and embarrassed of my ethnicity that I feel voiceless, and oppressed into silence.

When you call my mother ‘cute’ you are patronising a strong, resilient and intelligent wom*n who has struggled with a chronic illness, speaking a second-language, and racist fucks like you every day she’s lived in Australia – get the fuck out.

When you think my family is crazy, you forget that our parents had to sacrifice and fight for every opportunity we have had in this country, and that they may have come from nothing – you forget that you are so entirely privileged and ignorant that you measure their sanity and ours with a White measuring tape that humiliates and demeans all people of colour.

Dear White feminist,

When you grow out your body hair or have the audacity to comment on how this affects ‘wom*n’ you completely forget and erase the experiences of wom*n of colour. You will never understand what it is like to be compared to a gorilla or told to shave your arms by your classmates and you have NO AUTHORITY on the subject of how it affects us. Do not try to compare or impose your blonde or fair haired/skinned experiences upon those who have been bullied and policed about their body hair since pre-school.

When all of your racist behaviour, microaggressions, ignorance and White privilege go unacknowledged, you are no more a feminist than Tony Abbott, because if you believed in equality for ALL wom*n, you would fucking educate yourself.

Dear White feminist,

It is possible for you to help create an inclusive space for all wom*n to feel supported and heard, but you have to actively listen, learn and understand. You are still responsible for the oppression of people of colour until you make a commitment to change yourself. The key is, instead of starting with “But I’m not racist,” start with, “I experience White privilege and I have oppressed people of colour my entire life, but now I am taking responsibility of this and making a change today.”

Bridget Harilaou This article was originally published in the 2014 Wom*n’s Edition of Honi Soit at the University of Sydney.

Illustration by Emily Johnson

[ginanle]

Teaching is not a glamorous job, but God, it's such a joy to see kids grow and improve!

[weareteachers]

1) Someone says, “I don’t know why people think teaching is so hard. It would be so nice to have a whole summer off—the rest of us don’t get a break!” How to talk to non teachers SAY THIS: “Well, actually most teachers are in professional development, doing work to prepare for the next school year, teaching summer school, or working another job to supplement their paltry income. Also, the school year is so busy and stressful that the time we do have to rest during the summer is extremely important to our well-being. But yes, it’s a common misconception that we have summers off.” NOT THAT: “You’re right, it would be so nice to have summers off! To what profession are you referring so I can apply right now?” “Double-dare you to spend a week with my fifth period. You’d need two years to recover.” “Hmm. I don’t think you know very many things.”

Say This, Not That: A Guide to Navigating Uncomfortable Conversations About Teaching

http://www.weareteachers.com/blogs/post/2015/03/16/say-this-not-that-a-guide-to-navigating-uncomfortable-conversations-about-teaching

(via weareteachers)

[ginanle]

For when I get discouraged or think my work is hopeless...

"In his natural condition, however, man is only potentially great. As a mere physical being, he does not take high rank, even among the beasts of the field. He is not so fleet as a horse or a hound, or so strong as an ox or a mule. His true dignity is not to be sought in his arm, or in his legs, but in his head. Here is the seat and source of all that is of especially great or practical importance in him. There is fire in the flint and steel, but it is friction that causes it to flash, flame and burn, and give light where all else may be darkness. There is music in the violin, but the touch of the master is needed to fill the air and the soul with the concord of sweet sounds. There is power in the human mind, but education is needed for its development.

As man is the highest being on earth, it follows that the vocation of teacher is among the highest known to him. To properly teach is to educe man’s potential and latent greatness, to discover and develop the noblest, highest and best that is in him. In view of this fact, no man whose business it is to teach should ever allow himself to feel that his mission is mean, inferior, or circumscribed. In my estimation, neither politics nor religion present to us a calling higher than this primary business of unfolding and strengthening the powers of the human soul. It is a permanent vocation. Some know the value of education, by having it. I know its value by not having it." - Frederick Douglass

[ginanle]

My Struggle Bus.

I’m currently combating major feelings of inadequacy. Honestly, I don’t think there’s a sin that I commit more than comparison or envy. I constantly see other people (and social media only makes my problem worse) and find myself thinking, “I’m not doing enough.” But I know that’s just the devil whispering. I need to remind myself that I am made in God’s image! 

[c0ntemplations]

Don’t be scared to love. Is it going to be forever? Will you always feel this way? Maybe; maybe not. But that shouldn’t stop you from feeling things. Because the next thing you know, you’ll be sixty years old sitting on a chair looking out the window wondering why the hell you were so terrified of a broken heart when an empty one is so much worse.

(via sigmainthetardis)

[eltonhjohn]

[wocinsolidarity]

Tumblr // Facebook

[humansofnewyork]

“I’d probably feel more loved and respected if I was better at conversation. When you’re good at conversation, people are always giving you feedback. People listen to you and smile and laugh at what you say. It’s easy to know that you are liked. Because I’m shy, I’m always nervous that people don’t like me. I worry that they think I’m stupid because it might seem like I don’t have anything to say. It’s especially tough in large groups, because then I don’t feel pressured and it’s easier for me to sit back and let other people talk. But then afterwards I feel like I didn’t participate, and I feel even more isolated.”

[ginanle]

I relate to this sooooooo much!