My favorite moments of the day are when my kids let go of the feeling that they are being watched and scrutinized and for a brief period of time, carry a "screw it, I don't care WHAT anyone thinks!" persona about them. This does not happen intentionally for my kids, or very often. It sneaks up on them and ever so gently lifts off the burden of the world that hangs on their shoulders, carries the weight for a bit, lets them breathe. But when it does, I look at them and think: there you are.
What makes you let go? What allows you to live out your design? I find it in a few places. Teaching, for one. I find my rhythm and get on a roll and on the spot think of ways to teach something - I love it when that happens. I love to watch my kids learn something, watch them turn in their rough draft of their research papers so proud that they made it 8 pages - something about that brings me alive. Hearing one of my Goals kids say that hadn't read a book since 5th grade until they were in my class, and they actually liked reading it - I lived on that encouragement for days. Talking with people, meeting new people, hearing about their wounds, scars, successes, hopes - that energizes me. Bike rides, taking pictures, listening to Talking Heads, finding a shirt for $3, writing, being outside, going for drives in my car spontaneously. Decorating. Making my first pot roast. Giggling with my 8th grade girls about someone farting during church. Having a glass of wine.
It seems fitting to put that list to the tune of "These are a few of my favorite things," but I hate The Sound of Music, and I don't think Julie Andrews would sing about farting.
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