Popular or not?

Funny the things we find that bring us happiness or make us feel blue... things that validate us and things that drag us down. * I'm venturing back into Elementary School. Teaching 5th grade I'm finding is SOOooooo much fun! Even though I don't have the "professor" title anymore, I think I actually enjoy 5th grade more. Of course this is only because I was blessed with a super great bunch of kids! Like seriously... they are AMAZING! They are funny and smart and most of them are nice. But the most important thing is that I've won them over and they ALL like me. YES! SUCCESS!!! 120 ten year olds in the palm of my hand! * Somehow my students have decided that I am, in fact, cool. So, no matter what my sister says... I have 120 other opinions. ;-) Mostly I've won them over with games and candy. But also love. I have a genuine love for these kids. I want to see them succeed and I want to see them be happy. And I think they know that. * But back to my main point... its really funny the things I'm finding that give me validation or make me second guess myself. * A couple of weeks ago a 5th grade boy said my outfit looked "weird" or something of that sort, and no joke, I second guessed my fashion sense... because of a 5th grade boy! * On the other hand, I'm also finding a lot of validation from the students (blowing up my Ego for sure!)... things like "I like you", "You are the best", "You are my favorite teacher", "you're cool"... simple things. Things everyone likes to hear but as an adult we just don't say enough. * Other things that I think this generation especially finds validation in is the cyber liking. I feel popular when you re-pin my pin on pinterest. I feel rejected when you don't like my picture or status on facebook. When I wake up in the morning and I don't have any new notifications I feel like no one likes me. Crazy what we've become because of technology. * I'm happy that I have found acceptance from my students and I'm very grateful to have a job that I (mostly) enjoy. I know that my true worth doesn't come from my number of friends on facebook or how many people like or re-pin. My true worth comes from Jesus Christ. I'm joyful for what God is creating me to be. The process isn't always fun. Sometimes its very lonely. But through it all, rejection AND acceptance- I'm becoming me! Keep that in mind next time you're feeling up or down. * And if you are reading this blog, I just want to let you know... I like you!