handwritten on September 1, 2019
As I was walking back from getting coffee today (with a friend earlier), I reminded myself to become more alert regarding the people passing by. On the left side of the road near a quick-stop, I spotted a young boy around the age of 7 maybe 8. He was coming out of the quick-stop convenience store carrying a bag with the biggest smile on his face. There was something about his face that really made me stop and smile. It was a fairly quick moment. Thus, I'm not entirely sure what was in the bag. But I can guess that he had been allowed to explore the options on his own. And whatever he chose with his money-well...it made his day.
He took that bag, placed it around the handlebars of his bike...
handwritten on August 31, 2019
Illumination of any kind has always been something I find remarkable. And when you see the whole world glowing like firelies in a grassy space then you know you are in the right place. Simple love.
The water lantern festival was today. Just as remarkable as I always hoped it would be. As if the world has gathered for the first time in a long time refusing to let the dark conquer the light that every single one of us creates and carries and captures and embellishes. That light carries everything. Lost faces and treasured laces that tie up the wounds of time-dreams an individual chases.
Watching those lanterns drift by and the messages catch the wind to sail towards the shores of partially...
handwritten on August 30, 2019
I think sometimes the thoughts we dwell upon the most are probably most telling of who we are as people. I can tell a lot from listening on the carpet to students who choose to share or not share specific stories from their weekend. I can tell a lot from the students who ask me questions throughout the day or who whisper questions in my ear. I can even tell a lot when I ask a student who appears to be daydreaming what they are thinking about. And chances are, you will find that what they are thinking about is deeper than what it is you were saying in that very moment. Because the day-dreamers are also the world-changers. I think that is always something so important to remember. The free-...
handwritten on August 29, 2019
Everyday so far this year in my teaching classroom I have been so reminded of one very important truth: I have no clue what hard is. Hard is not hard. And this principle has slowly set me free. The trials I have gone through in life are slim to none. I have absolutely nothing to complain about. In fact, I don't think I've actually ever experienced "hard." Perhaps I've experienced surface level hard a few times in my life. LIke the kind of hard where you feel badly for a few weeks and then life becomes more tolerable. Not life-threatening. Not sustaining. My students know hard. They feel hard. Many of them could shake the hand of hard with their eyes closed.
I don't have to talk about grit...
handwritten on August 28, 2019
The best metaphor to describe teaching is a bulldozer of love. You aren't necessarily ready to go but regardless you and your beautiful students are suddenly picked up by the bulldozer and carried to a new land with new resources and new treasures and new things to find as you sift through the dirt to find the gems you know are hiding somewhere. And just as quickly as you land, another scoop brings you to a new hill with new challenges and a new place where the dirt is different than the dirt before and the treasures are also different. In fact, maybe they are hidden deeper this time.
Sometimes in the dirt, somtimes on top of the hill you find yourself trying to rest only to get gently...
