The Moment

I love when children help me put things in perspective.

On the last day of school, one of my students was bursting with excitement. As he skipped into school he exclaimed, "I'm going on vacation to Colorado!". When I asked him when he was going, he kept skipping and yelled over his shoulder, "I don't know! I don't even know what today is!".

Well said.

His simple statement made my day. However, now weeks later, I can't stop thinking about it. There is a lot to be said for living in the moment, for appreciating the now and for reveling in genuine excitement. My young friend was completely in the moment. He was feeling the sheer joy of knowing that he was going on vacation...you know, whenever. Time didn't matter because he was so excited by the idea.

Each year, I am thankful for summer break. Besides providing time to decompress, it is the perfect crossroads for dreaming. The school year is far enough behind so I can more objectively learn from my successes and mistakes. On the horizon lies the promise of a fresh start, a new year with new possibilities. There are many directions I can take and, most importantly, I have time to reflect on each of them. What a gift.

So even as I gear up for the start of another school year, I am enjoying the moment. I am energized by the past school year and motivated by the anticipation of starting a new one. And, like all skilled vacationers, I can say with simple enthusiasm, "I don't even know what today is!".