October 2, 2009
We have a bucket list. For those of you who might not be aware of this term, it's the list of things you really want to do before you kick the bucket. Last weekend we were able to check one of the items off.
See James Taylor in concert.
We have been James Taylor fans for decades. If you have ever attended one of our workshops, you've noticed that James is always playing before and after the presentations. Well, not only did we get to see James Taylor in concert, but it was a beautiful evening at an outdoor venue. We sat completely mesmerized as favorite after favorite filled the air, until he sang "Secret 'O Life." The lyrics struck a chord, "The secret of life is enjoying the passage of time. The secret of love is an opening of the heart. It's just a lovely ride." We couldn't help but think of our own lives and how fortunate we are to pour ourselves into the lives of children each day.
We aren't naive though. While we wouldn't want to do anything else, the truth is that teaching can be a hard and exhausting job. Right now we are deeply entrenched in establishing Daily 5 routines and building stamina, introducing the beginning Cafe strategies and assessing and establishing Cafe goals for each student. We are trying not to be discouraged with how far some of those in our care need to go in order to meet standard. If the secret of life is to enjoy the passage of time...maybe that's the secret to enjoying our days as teachers, as well. If we are too consumed with what we have to get done and what we need to do next, then we'll fail to be present right now. So we are determined to be present, opening our hearts to listen, laugh and love, appreciating the uniqueness of each child. We'll 'enjoy the passage of time' with our students, delighting as they learn and grow. Then it will indeed be a lovely ride.
Thanks James.