It’s the new year and I have a lot to be grateful for. Since Mondays are somewhat of a drag, ie. the weekend is over, 6 AM is a very early time for the clock to be going off, my students are usually less pumped about school and their “listening ears,” I am going to start making a happy list of things that brightened my day each Monday. Maybe like a New Year’s Resolution of sorts. At least I’m going to try!

1. Fresh flowers from one of the best men I know. Thank you for always being thoughtful, for always finding flowers in my favorite color, and for always surprising me just because. You are wonderful.

2. Red corduroy pants a la Gap. I wore a very Kendi inspired outfit today, and felt a little pep in my step. Maybe it was because the pants are a very vibrant shade of red. Maybe it was because skinny cords do in fact make you feel skinny. Whatever the reason, these bright pants were a bright spot.

3. Exercise. Melissa and I made it out through the snow, ice, and freezing rain to the gym where I ran 3 miles. Folks, that is a major feat for our little apartment, especially on a Monday. We have decided that in this new year we are going to be training together for and running as many 5K’s and 10K’s as we can squeeze in. Who knows, we might get crazy and go for something like a half marathon. It could happen!

4. New music. Melissa has hooked me up with the new NEEDTOBREATHE cd which I am immensely enjoying, as well as introduced me to the indie phenomenon of Phoenix. My car rides have been much more enjoyable, and I am currently jamming out while writing this post. The more the merrier and the more variety the better in my iTunes. Loving it.

5. Winter weather! Logan has apparently becoming a burgeoning meteorologist and has been updating me for days on the approaching weather situation. First it was the blizzard of the century. Then we were getting nothing. Then we were still expected to get a least four inches. After waiting around all day for this snowstorm, the snow finally started falling around 6:30 and has been slowly but steadily covering my car, the ground, and the roads. School tomorrow? Doubtful. Know what that means? This teacher is sleeping in, and is more than a little excited about it. So there you have it!

My first Happy Mondays post. I hope I will be able to keep it up and in doing so, keep my spirits up on the dreaded manic Mondays. Maybe I will need a sticky note or two on the bathroom mirror and closet door to remind myself? Or maybe write it in the trusty planner? Organization is the keyyyy.