Life’s Little Edge
Each day is a choice.
We walk a fine line between the past and the future. This moment, the Now, the Present, most of us forget how to stay in this place of wonder. As busy adults, we scurry, we bustle, we hurry, from place to place with our eyes ever looking backward to what was, or forward to what will be. Barely recognizing ourselves for who we are AT THIS MOMENT.
Working in a Pre-K classroom teaches this lesson each and every day. I am the queen of multi-tasking. As soon as I open that classroom door at six a.m. I hit the ground running. Photos to take, activities to plan, clean up, spruce up, kiss a scrape, moderate a conflict, wipe a spill, tie a shoe, read a book, help a friend…
As if I choose to stop moving the Earth will suddenly tilt willy nilly and fall off its very axis. Then, in one moment, I am transported outside myself, to watch with clarity for the first time in a long time. This whirling dervish, a tornado of a woman, spinning aimlessly throughout the classroom. Harried, frantic, chaotic…is this what I look like? In that moment, I see me as the children see me…full of “just a minute,” “hold on a second,” “be right there.”
And I sit down. Right then and there. As I sit for a moment, the children gather around. Several snuggle in close. In their excitement to see me PRESENT they begin to chatter, telling me all the important stuff I’ve missed. I am with them, tuned in, and ready to learn.
They teach me this every day. A variation on this lesson of living in the moment. Every experience, new or old, they meet with a sense of wonder and discovery. Listening, loving, snuggling, facilitating, that is the true nature of my work. Opening my arms and my heart to all the love and confidence that we share in our classroom community.
Think about that in the constraints of your daily life. How often are you really PRESENT? Do you buy in to the hustle and bustle? Do you wave off your children or loved ones, who ask for a moment of your time? Remember, we always have a choice. Will we look backwards with regret or longing? Will we look forward to tomorrow with hope, apprehension, or anxiety?
Slow down. Live in the Now. This is where your greatest power resides. Think about the priorities you hold…would they be the same if you had a finite amount of time left? I know mine would be substantially different. So, why wait? Live your passions. Love without reservations. Give with a generous spirit. Do what you love. If you intentionally choose your path, your direction, your attitude, you can and will create miracles.
I am grateful for the innocent wisdom of my four year old teachers. I resolve to choose each day to live in the moment, and be with them in all that we learn. To stop and smell the pumpkin pie playdough. To read a story with emotion. To multi-task less. To hug more.
Each day is a choice. Choose to walk in the Now.
