the enjoyment of work

Portrait of me (the taller one) and a student, by a talented first-grader

Receiving beautiful artwork is just one of the many reasons I love my job.  Being a teacher makes me realize how VERY wonderful it is to really enjoy your profession, especially just the day-to-day experience of working.  I am so happy to see my students everyday, and teach them, and just talk with them.  I'm convinced the most important aspect of any job is by far the enjoyment factor-- not the money factor.  I am also convinced that everyone can find an occupation they enjoy as much as I do mine-- it just might take some time and trial-and-error to find it.

simple ways to de-stress and relax

The Orange Trees, by Caillebotte. 1878.

-in warm weather: sit outside in the sunshine
-in cold weather: take a long hot bath
-immerse myself in a book (or twelve)
-take a walk in the woods
-talk to a friend
-enjoy a piping hot cup of tea
-plan my next big trip
-clean (really-- a dirty or cluttered environment makes me feel overwhelmed)
-attack my to-do list
-eat (a little) chocolate

These are mine.  Yours may be totally different.

a beautiful painting you may not have seen before

Der Kindergarten, Johann Sperl, c. 1885

I discovered this painting two winters ago at the Neue Pinakothek (www.pinakothek.de) in Munich.  I love the lush colors, the peaceful bucolic setting, and the depiction of nature in this painting.  There were many far better known and more impressive works at the museum but this was by far my favorite.