Cheesy Emails I Love

We’ve all gotten those cheesy forwarded emails from our dear Aunt Suzie or that random high school friend.  You know the ones -  that contain sappy messages about parenthood or God or love or husbands.  We roll our eyes, and read it lest we are quizzed on it later (“Did you get that wonderful email I forwarded to you about the cute baby animals and motherhood?”)  And then we delete it - despite the risk of bad luck falling upon us.  

Its not that I disagree with the idea of savoring each moment or laughing at the picture of the overweight woman with the cigarette hanging out of her mouth clutching her toddler by his feet - upside down.  Its just that, haven’t we seen enough of them already?  Aren’t you dying to tell dear Aunt Suzie, who has too much time on her hands, to please stop sending you this junk?  Or maybe the threats of bad luck if you don’t forward it, bother you so much that you refuse to play a part in it?  

On the whole I am proud to say that I almost never forward those emails.  I can’t say never-never because I’m ashamed to admit that I too have fallen prey to the promises of overwhelming love (and money) which will come my in the next four days if I simply send it to eight people I love.  “Oh why not?” I hear myself saying!  

But wait, there's more: I must confess that once or twice a year, there is that cheesy forwarded email with a quote or a list of life lessons that I just love.  I can’t help it, but I love it.  And then I become like annoying Aunt Suzie and I send it to AT LEAST eight people.  All the people who I think may like the quote or list as much me.  Or to all those whom I think need to hear that quote or read that list!  Although they haven’t seemed to figure life out on their own, this list may be the thing that saves them!  Despite how cheesy these emails are - sometimes they do strike a chord of truth or meaning.

This morning, I stumbled across this one (yes, I actually saved it on my computer!) and thought ‘Ah, this is exactly what I need to read today - exactly what I need to remember today.’  Truthfully, I need to remember it everyday, but it just so happens to be today.  So here's to those cheesy emails we love (you love them too - don't you???) and to the corny people who send them to us!

"Today may there be peace within. 

May you trust that you are exactly where you are meant to be. 

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith in yourself and others. 

May you use the gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you. 

May you be content with yourself just the way you are. 

Let this knowledge settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.  It is there for each and every one of us."

PS - I do not know who this quote is attributed to.  If you do, please let me know!

Doling out "Gold Stars"

I subscribe to the Teaching Authors blog, which as a children's writer, I love.  They always have interesting insights and great writing exercises.  Today's post was titled "Gold Stars" by Jeanne Marie Grunwell Ford.  
 Teaching Authors--6 Children's Authors Who Also Teach Writing: Gold Stars 


Gold Stars focuses on summer reading programs for children, and specifically about whether we should reward children for reading when we are attempting to get them to love reading for its own sake.  On the other hand, Jeanne Marie points out - who doesn't love to get recognized for their hard work?  Adults work for the reward of their pay checks!  


My feelings are this: why not offer rewards?  We all like a pat on the back.  Kids especially love to know with physical, tangible proof that they are doing a good job.  What's the worst case scenario?  That they only read in order to receive a reward - and there after don't?  Well,  these kids most likely would never read a thing if they didn't have to - so now, at least they've been exposed to the world of literature.  Maybe, just maybe they will learn to like it.  If not, nothing lost - they still spent the summer reading.  


More importantly, life is short!  Let's look for reasons to celebrate, to have fun, to give out special treats.  Kids are only kids for a short time.  Dole out those stickers, those ice cream cones, those award certificates!  If there is an opportunity to make children feel special - take it!  While it may not be the most significant award of their little lives, it still may bring  smiles to their faces.  And what could be more important than that?


Don't get me wrong.  I'm not the sort of parent who rewards her kids for making their bed or setting the table.  My kids do LOTS of chores, with no reward.  They are part of our family and they need to contribute.  Period.  But summer reading falls into a different category.  Along with a beautiful report card.  There are so many expectations on our children.  When they go that extra mile, work really hard for a duration of time, do more than is expected of them, I say "Let's celebrate!"  I don't hand out money for every A, but I do say "You get to pick the restaurant, we're going out for a special meal because you did such a great job!" 


It makes me think of the book, The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.  Rubin devotes a year to finding little ways to become happier.  One of her conclusions is that making other people happy, makes one happier.  Some of her goals are to smile more, to be generous, "to be a treasure house of happy memories" (I love that one!).  My fondness for this book stems from these completely simple, every day strategies, which lead to becoming more mindful of one's own happiness.


So if handing out gold stars for every book a child reads makes that child feel good - if it makes her smile, if it adds to her happiness for even just a moment - then we've done our job!  In the end, it will make all of us happier!