teacher life – The Manifest Study

Pause. What a Pleasure. Thank You.

This simple little phrase turned my entire day around.

I was on cafeteria duty during lunch today—which, as a kindergarten teacher, basically means crowd control, package-opening services, and fruit-peeling on demand. It’s chaotic, loud, and overstimulating… especially for those not fluent in tuning out noise. Luckily, with five kids of my own and over a decade of classroom experience, I’ve earned my noise-canceling badge of honor.

When Chaos Strikes

In the middle of the usual cafeteria madness, one of my students—who had already been pushing boundaries all day—spit in another student’s face.

Yep. That happened.

When I confronted him, he escalated instantly… and so did my blood pressure. But here’s the thing—I’ve been listening to a podcast that shares grounding practices, and in that moment, one phrase came to mind. I reached for it like a life raft.

Pause. What a pleasure. Thank you.

I whispered it to myself.

And then I repeated it.

Thank you for this job.
Thank you for these amazing children I get to work with each day.
Thank you for the opportunity to positively influence this little boy—even on his worst day.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.

The Power of a Simple Shift

That one moment pulled me back into gratitude. Instead of spiraling into “Ugh, I’m so done with this. I hate my job. This kid is on my last nerve,” I felt… thankful.

I felt thankful for the kid who needed me most in that moment.
Thankful for the tiny raised hands asking for help.
Thankful for my former students—now big, confident first graders—who ran over to give me hugs as they walked in for lunch.

Gratitude for the noise.
Gratitude for the chaos.
Gratitude for the joy.

Because that’s what it’s really about, right? Feeling good in the now. And feeling good in the now is what’s going to fast-track all my manifestations to me.

Ten More Things I’m Grateful For Today

Sometimes I like to take my gratitude a step further. So here are ten more things I’m appreciating today:

1. My Community

I live in the same neighborhood where I teach, and today was Career Day. So many parents and community members came out—even in the drizzle—to share their time and talents with our kids.

2. It’s Friday

Need I say more?

3. Date Night

My husband and I have started going out on Friday nights while our oldest son “babysits” the others. We hit a nearby restaurant, grab a drink, and actually finish full sentences. It’s amazing.

4. Coffee

Two cups a day. Non-negotiable. I love it deeply.

5. Good T.V.

This week I binged A Body in the Snow: The Trial of Karen Read and OMG… I COULD. NOT. STOP. Watching.

6. My Admin Team

Supportive, positive, and truly invested in our school. Good leadership makes all the difference.

7. My Next-Door Neighbor

Also my lifelong BFF. She orders family meals from a local business and always shares her leftovers with me. It’s basically magic.

8. Pizza Fridays at School

Pizza means I don’t have to pack lunch for most of my kids. Automatic win.

9. The Ocean

It’s my happy place. Even just picturing it puts me in a better mood.

10. DoorDash

Overslept today, forgot to pack lunch—blessed be the DoorDash gods. I ordered a veggie burger from P. Terry’s (I’ve been a vegetarian for years) and it hit the spot.

Manifestation Time ✨

Gratitude raises my vibration—and once I’m there, I love to play in the energy of my dream life. So here’s what I’m calling in:

I am so happy and grateful now that I am a full-time writer. I create books, blog posts, and content I love. I’ve written bestsellers, I’m on the NYT list, and one of my YA novels is being adapted for Netflix!
I am so happy and grateful now that my husband has his dream career. He’s challenged, fulfilled, and makes a tremendous income doing what he loves.
I am so happy and grateful now that we live in our dream home on the lake. We boat almost daily, the kids ski and wakeboard, and our weekends are filled with sunshine, laughter, and lakeside snacks.
I am so happy and grateful now that we have season tickets to UT football. We sit in a suite and host friends and family for nearly every home game.
I am so happy and grateful now that we travel monthly. Whether it’s a quick getaway or a long summer vacation, we love exploring new places and sharing those experiences with the people we love most.