I just went to recess. I don’t do it very often but it’s a great place to mine content for the facebook and instagram accounts. Watching the abandon of kids at play got me wondering, When is the last time I broke into a full sprint?
It’s been a while and to be honest, any sprinting I do is likely a result of an emergency. For the kids, it’s a legitimate way to travel from point A to point B. Even if point A is the water fountain and point B is….well, just over there. There doesn’t even need to be a destination to necessitate a sprint.
One of my favorite aspects of a school that hosts 5 year olds to 13 year olds is the cross age group, awe factor. Watching two 1st grade boys chase a ball near the 4th grade four square game and then pull up short when they realize they are amongst giants. They back up, say nothing and stare in true wonder at the big kids and their game. You can almost see the thought bubble over their wee heads. “One day.”
But, shortly thereafter, those same 4th grade men are dwarfed by the passing 8th graders. They too, stop and gaze. Surely, wondering about the facial hair and deep voices. Are they men? Will we someday go baritone? The beauty of this interaction is the total obliviousness of those being held in awe contrasted by those frozen in admiration. Of course, those 8th graders are soon to start the high school visits where they will be face to face with drivers. Voters. Talk about awe.
Perhaps we all stand in amazement of another. And, in turn, are the object of someone else’s awe. I think living our lives aware that some youngster sees us this way might be good motivation to be our best selves. But, unlike the youngsters who seem to be sprinting towards the next age group, we would like to slow the pace.
Hope you find a bit of awe and the right pace for you this Monday!