Ten tips for happiness
We now live in an ever-changing “future,” and have been citizens in this kind of future for almost two years now.
In the past, changing futures came from such things as the agricultural or industrial revolution. But this change is different because its magnitude happened all at once. It has been continuous and global. We have all been affected just by the sheer speed of this ever-changing situation. In recent years, “viral” was terminology for the rapid information sent through, and gained from, computers.
Now, as it was a century ago, the word viral [virus] was a feared proclamation from an outbreak of a disease. It’s crazy when you think of how words can be used when speaking of technology and diseases! Last year, when COVID became viral and struck our community, we were all as prepared as we could be, not knowing what could happen.
Thankfully, the number of positivity rates began to drop and there was then some sense of normalcy. Then the Delta variant arrived and now the Omicron is here. As SUIMA started school back up after Christmas break, we were staying positive about being open. Yet, due to the uptick of COVID-19 and the variants reaching our community, we temporarily moved to remote, online, learning and are planning on the students returning to in-person, on-campus, learning Monday, Jan. 31.
In the most recent Montessori Life, the magazine of the American Montessori Society, there was an article by Jill Segerman titled “Ten tips for Happiness.” Considering that New Year resolutions may have been chosen and the fact that COVID is still around, this is the perfect time to provide the readers with some happiness tips.
- Don’t search for happiness. Study after study has shown that that we humans are not too good at knowing what will make us happy.
- Build strong relationships. The happiest people in the world have one thing in common. It’s not health, wealth, or where they live: it’s strong relationships.
- Give yourself compassion. We may be good at having compassion for other people, be we’re not so good at giving ourselves that same compassion.
- Be kind. It can be as simple as saying hello to someone or holding the door open for a stranger.
- Practice gratitude. Happiness is not having what you want, it is wanting what you have.
Tumiikukh kwanachi – Eagle of the Week
O’hozhoni Larry is a first grader who has been at SUIMA since she was in the infant room, which began in 2015! Her Ute name is Miipʉchi which means “to be small.”
When O’hozhoni is at school, she can be found working on Math and Living World/Social Studies. She has wonderful counting skills and is working hard with her addition.
Her favorite foods are crab, cheeseburgers, and apples with caramel. Yummy! When she is not at school, O’hozhoni enjoys gymnastics and playing on her tablet. When she grows up, she wants to be a gymnast, an ice skater and a hairstylist. O’hozhoni has three pets — a cat named Pinky and two dogs, one named Studi and the other named Remi.
Nuu’apaghapi – Ute phrases
- ‘anɵwiini mɵ’ɵvi? Wáyni mɵ’ɵvi. How many hands? Two hands.
- ‘ʉmʉ pʉ’ʉm punikya? Pui’i. What do you see with? Eyes.
- ‘ʉmʉ pʉ’ʉm ‘ugwikya? mɵvotʉ. What do you use to smell? Nose.
- ‘ʉmʉ pʉ’ʉm kamaytuk? Tapáa. What do you use to taste? Mouth.
Upcoming events:
- 1/17 – No school
- 1/25 – Parent Advisory Group meeting