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uncontainable joy



A friend posted this picture on Facebook today and it made me smile. So much natural, uncontainable joy! This is who we really are. 

I miss being around the natural joy and delight of the children at school. There is something so precious about their discoveries, the way they see things for the first time, even when it's not the first time. The amazement over ice crystals in a frozen puddle, the caterpillar in the road, racing to climb the cherry tree at recess to eat the not-yet-ripe cherries. 

In my mind and in my heart I can almost hear and feel their excitement when we discover something new or come upon some new question or connection in our day. It feels so alive to be in those moments of wonder and curiosity and appreciation with them. Ever new. The question is: can we experience these moments of authentic shared presence and collective curiosity and discovery through distance learning? What does that look like? 

I'm craving the beautiful mix of spontaneity and routine that creates our life together in the classroom. Without that, where can I find that sense of aliveness and newness that the children remind me of and return me to? How do I tap into the natural, uncontainable joy of my own self?

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