Pivot

 

Last week, as one does, I was writing about googly eyes. 

Everything was going well until I realized I was being much too serious. 

I had written:

 

“I was recently talking to my niece about phone cases. 

The next time I checked my phone, 

I had an ad for phone cases. 

Our technology is always watching. 

Always listening. 

Always paying attention.

Always searching. 

And so our students. 

Even when we don’t think they are. 

Even when we don’t want them to. 

Even when we wish they wouldn’t. 

Our students are always listening and watching. 

 

We are but one of the many influences on our students’ lives, 

and sometimes our voices and actions get drowned out by others, 

but our voices and actions still matter. 

They provide our students with a model of how things should be. 

They show our students a life that is to come.”

 

While all of that is true,

It is not very encouraging.

In fact, it’s a bit heavy and discouraging,

Feeling the weight of always being watched,

And not feeling free to have an off moment.

 

So I pivoted.

I ended up writing and sharing this,

Which I hope made some people smile:

 

“There are a lot of things to say about eyes. 

The eyes are windows to the soul. 

There are always little eyes watching you. Be careful little eyes what you see. 

You can’t unsee what’s been seen. 

There is calm in the eye of a storm. 

I can see it in your eyes. 

It’s fun to put googly eyes on things…

Okay. 

That last statement isn’t one that’s frequently made. 

But it’s true. 

Googly-eying random things is fun. 

It makes things cute. 

And it makes people laugh. 

And we need laughter these days. 

So go forth and googly eye! 

Spread a little joy. 

And remember:

Your students see the world through your eyes. 

Open them to a world of wonder and beauty, for even in hard times, there is beauty all around.”

 

In a dark and serious world,

We need silliness and laughter.

May you find some laughter today, 

Googly eyes or not. 

 

Amen