I went for a bike ride this morning before it got too hot. I labored up a long, grueling hill with my eyes on the bit of the street just in front of my front tire. In the nick of time, I looked up and avoided a low-hanging tree branch that would certainly have smacked me in the face.
This experience seems to be the perfect cautionary tale for the school year. At some point, the newness wears off and a week can start to feel like a long, grueling hill. With our heads down and our eyes focused on only what is right in front of us, we risk shortsightedness and a reactionary way of dealing with unexpected things that pop up. Let's remember to keep our heads up and our eyes on the long view, enjoying all of the scenery around us and watching for low hanging branches. Let's celebrate the hill rather than cursing it, knowing that we will be stronger when we get to the top.
I was so glad to see your name on the Slice of Life posts this summer. I don't know many other people who could discover such big truths in such a tiny moment. I'm going to print this out and put it in the front of my lesson plan book! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteVery wise!!
ReplyDeleteAn important reminder! Thanks!
ReplyDeleteKeeping my eyes open for the long view. Love that wording....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary Lee! This is the perfect reminder to me to focus on the positive about our upcoming move (which we are excited about) instead of feeling whiny about all the work involved. I'm going to keep looking at the long view over the next few weeks to help me get through it:>)
ReplyDeleteThe perfect metaphor. I am printing and posting this above my desk and in my conferring notebook.
ReplyDelete