This morning when I woke, it seemed like it could be a good day. Morning routines went smoothly. I knew I was substituting in upper level English classes, and the sun was shining. I had a positive attitude.
As I drove to school, I was reflecting on the idea that each day, in little and not-so-little ways, we create the world around us. I was considering that the attitude with which we greet the day colors the way we perceive the world. I was considering all the ways we can positively affect our own lives just with our attitudes. And then I realized I had forgotten my lunch. Mm.
I had in my bag a resume that I planned to give the principal at the school where I was substituting. The teacher for whom I was substituting had announced her retirement. There would be an opening. Despite my forgotten lunch, this would be a good day.
When I arrived at the school, I found out that my assignment had been changed to another teacher, a teacher I had subbed for before who had freshmen, not upper classmen. This was not such bad news. She had requested that I sub for her again. She appreciated the job I had done. Oh, well. Despite the forgotten lunch and the changed plan, this would be a good day.
When I saw the principal I told him I had my resume and I would like to give it to him when he had a moment. It was then he told me that the position I thought was open had been filled. I was too slow. He told me that it probably wouldn't have made much of a difference; the teacher he had hired had more experience. This was something I could understand. He had to do what was best for his students. Despite the forgotten lunch, the changed plan, and loss of an opportunity...well, maybe it wouldn't be a good day. But I was going to make it the best day I possibly could.
I subbed, and I taught. We read "I Have a Dream" and Nelson Mandela's "Hope and Glory." Two wonderful speeches by two men who made huge sacrifices following what they believed in. I did a good job. I try hard to be a good sub. Especially in English, and especially when the teacher I'm subbing for leaves a note allowing me leeway in how the lesson is delivered.
I skipped lunch. As the day went on, and my blood sugar got lower, I started to feel worse about my day. I drove home in something of a funk. But I picked up my son from after-school care, and I knew that as soon as I ate something, and I would be okay. Better, at least.
When I got home, I dished myself up some of the chicken and dumplings I had made the day before. Comfort food. Exactly what I needed. I put them in the microwave. The microwave didn't sound quite right, and when the timer sounded, the chicken and dumplings were still cold. The 10 year old microwave had quit.
I was almost glad. At last, a problem I could do something about. I was going to fix the microwave situation. I called to check on repairs. Just as cheap to replace as repair. So I went to Lowe's to price a new microwave. I found one on sale, so I bought it. The microwave that had gone out was one of the range hood microwaves, mounted, with brackets. The microwave that had gone out was a Whirlpool; I didn't think it unreasonable to hope for an identical mounting bracket.
I wasn't having that kind of day. Not only was it a different bracket, but the microwave I had bought was 1" taller. I had to chip off a small row of tile from the back-splash, take down the old mounting bracket, redrill holes in the upper cabinet. Of course, I had left my drill down at the farm. Borrowed my brother's (living on the same street has been very good for me when I need tools).
I dealt with every obstacle involved with replacing the microwave. Every additional problem was an additional challenge. This I could deal with. This I could fix. It wouldn't be easy. But I could do this. The mounting instructions said it was a two-man job. No way, baby. This was my deal. This was everything that had gone wrong all day, this job became all the things I couldn't fix and had no control over, the problems that arose became all the recent frustrations in my life and I was going to deal with them one at a time no matter what it took, and I was going to have at least one success today.
The microwave is up. The day is almost over for me. Soon I'll go to bed, and tomorrow another day will start. I'll have problems, and I'll have obstacles, and I will deal with them. So will many people. And one day, for each of us, there will be a day when the positives outweigh the negatives, and we'll have to remember the bad days, and have the good sense to be grateful for them. If it weren't for the bad days, how would we know we were having a good one?
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