Dandelion

Time. Our lives are constantly being dictated by the watch. We are always running to the next appointment. I have really noticed this with my students. They are always in need of something to do next. They aren't capable, it seems, to sit and relax. I don't blame them. We live in a world that tells us if we aren't doing a million things we are lazy.

This past semester (and five years, let's be honest) have been nothing but hoop jumping and rushing off to the next appointment. Sad truth is, these past five years have been preparing me for what life is. Running around and hoop jumping.

I am always amazed at the wonder children posses. I love spending my days with them and learning from them. They are able to restore my wonder and amazement with life. This is alone is precious enough.

Today was a busy day just like any other. I had pushed assignments and tests at my students and kept all of us right on schedule. I jumped at the sound of every bell and completed each task they signified. The end of the day approached and I rushed the children out the door. They went out to the buses and went on their way, hurriedly. I watched them as they walked away. One child, while rushing, seemed to have stopped dead in his tracks. This change of pace caught my attention. I watched as the boy knealt down to pick a dandelion from the brown November grass. He took a second, with the dandelion in his hand, and blew the seeds into the crisp Autumn air. After the seeds flew he dropped the stem and continued on to the bus.

I watched him until he was out of my sight. Dandelions. I need to take more time in my life to just stop and pick the dandelions. Appointments will wait, but life won't.

I feel so blessed to have children in my life who constantly remind me of what life is truly about: "dandelions".