Skip to main content

look for the light



Some might recognize this quote from the movie Pollyanna. I recently rewatched this movie and was deeply inspired by the way Pollyanna looked for the good in every situation and especially in every person. The people in the town were transformed by her perspective. Our thoughts and expectations can be more powerful than we realize. What struck me is that it wasn't merely positive thinking. Pollyanna genuine looked for the good in each situation, even if she needed to stretch a bit and she felt the benefit of that effort. Then gradually those around her began to feel the effects as well. They weren't instantly won over but with a bit of persistence, they began to see and feel the benefit of the "glad game" as she called it.

I still remember taking the first course in Education for Life through the online training program. The instructor gave us our homework assignment the first week: look for the light. We were to look for moment of lightness and childlikeness, moments of natural excitement, enthusiasm and joy in our classrooms.

At the time I had this one rather exuberant little girl in one of my yoga classes who always seemed to be doing something other than what we were doing - upside down when we were right side up. Standing when we were laying down. Lying on the floor when we were moving around. Dancing or singing through the whole class. I laugh now at my reaction then. Initially I was annoyed and looking for a way for her to join the group more. Then, once I started this assignment, I began to see her behavior in a whole new way. She wasn't misbehaving or annoying. Her behavior was just energy and there was a natural joy and enthusiasm behind it. When I started to follow her lead a bit, the whole class took on a more joyful and light energy. 

That one simple technique of looking for the light has allowed me to become more curious and open to learning from whatever is unfolding in my classes, rather than trying to control the outcome. Light and energy seem to have their own way of unfolding and leading us just where we need to go.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

starting again

I've been a little stuck trying to find things to write about now that school is over. I want to share thoughts and inspiration here but I think sometimes I get weighed down by expectations that it must be a particular length or profound in some way. I have to admit that I don't feel inspired to keep writing but I made the commitment so I will do 40 blog posts. It's just going to take a bit longer than I thought. So what is inspiring me lately? Where is there joy? I've been preparing to give a talk on Education for Life and it's been fun to ponder all the amazing ways the EFL principles are present and expanding and spreading in our world and throughout education. People are starting to really rethink the purpose and methods of education in a whole new way. The old systems are breaking down and suddenly we're trying to prepare children for a world that doesn't yet exist, that we can't imagine, that they will create! In the midst of the pandemic even we a...
Post a Comment
Read more

remember who you are

Today I'm feeling so quiet and still. There are dishes to be washed, books to be read, walks to be taken and yet all I want to do is just be. Not even meditate, just sit silent and still and do absolutely nothing at all. Of course then come all the thoughts: I should be using this time wisely! There's so many things on the list! What will I have to show for this day? But I've noticed that there are days of high energy, flow and productivity where a sudden burst comes and then there are days like today where it seems like nothing happens. It's okay to let this be a moment of rest. Again and again I seem to be learning that we are not what we do . One of the most powerful lessons I've learned about Education for Life is that it's not about what you do, but about who you are. It's not about what your students do (or don't do) it's about who they are. Not merely their personalities but their soul-self, their highest and best selves. In the classroom ther...
Post a Comment
Read more

guide on the side

I was watching a class that was given recently about how to teach online. The instructor pointed out the move to online learning is highlighting and supporting certain changes that have been happening in education overall. The old model was the "sage on the stage" which is a teacher centered model where an instructor imparts their knowledge. The new model is the "guide on the side" where the learners are actively engaged in the learning process. The goal of this particular class was to help give people alternatives to simply using a video conference platform to offer their courses and to introduce people to the potentials of learning management systems to make online learning more engaging and interactive.  It was wonderful to hear this perspective since our school and the Education for Life approach is firmly grounded in these types of more dynamic and experiential methods. Our curriculum is student centered meaning we develop the themes and lessons around the stud...
Post a Comment
Read more