Jaae Baby

Every day has the potential to be a good, and in some cases, a great day for you. Few of us get up in the morning thinking that we want this to be a bad day. Yet in many cases the day turns that way because of a person, an event or because we worry something in the future.

This Teaching Moment is about those small events that throw you off balance and negatively impact your day.

What stole your day? Was it a boss, an unruly child, the erratic driver on the way to work, not getting the &amprdquoB&amprdquo you expected on the history paper, a discourteous server at lunch, etc.

Every day there are numerous people or events that can prevent us from having a good day &ampndash if we let them. The key is not letting them &ampldquosteal your day.&amprdquo

In most cases we can not control these life experiences, but we can control how we react to them. Lao-Tzu, a Chinese Philosopher said: &ampldquoHe who conquers others is strong he who conquers himself is mighty.&amprdquo

Question for discussion:

1. Discuss the pluses and minus of your day with your family. Be specific.

2. Discuss with your family something that almost &ampldquostole your day.&amprdquo Describe the event and how you handled it.

3. Do you notice a pattern? Are there particular people or events that seem to always steal your day? Say, the drive to work, the bus to school, and the neighbor&amprsquos barking dog? etc. Discuss.

Suggestions for implementation:

1. Do your- family members have suggestions on how you could have handled a particular situation? This is a learning experience for everyone in the family. The idea is to share positive ways to keep you positive and focused on what is really important.

2. Make this a fun discussion stimulating experience for everyone.

3. Learn to accept others. They may be having a bad day for any number of reasons. Take a couple of deep breathes and say to yourself: &ampldquoI&amprsquom not going to let this steal my day.&amprdquo

We hope you have found this Teaching Moment helpful.