It's beneficial to be reminded of the beginner mind--the one that we should all keep no matter how skilled we become at something. I wish I would have remembered this around 11:30 this morning when I was "going off" on my fourth period class about the
dismal turn-in rate for their first formal writing assignment. Fortunately for my second period class, my frustration level hadn't peaked, even though their overall effort was rotten. I must remember they are beginners. Many of them did a great job. At the end of fourth period, after a few very long, deep breaths, I apologized for my outburst and explained to them that my response didn't come from a place of disgust, but from a place of frustration and concern. I've been down this same track with freshmen for four years, and each year I try to build in strategies and supports that will keep them from screwing up at the beginning of the year. Maybe they are just supposed to screw up.
On a lighter note, our friend Tom went to class with us tonight--his first-ever yoga experience! Heather and I were a bit nervous for him because the class, though only an hour long, is usually intense. Plus the room is heated to 99 degrees (only 4 degrees warmer than it was outside at 5:30). But, Tom made it through, and even had a big smile--a big, exhausted, sweaty smile--at the end of class. He said he wants to try it again. Now that's a good beginner mind!
I will try to take some of Tom's good-natured beginner energy with me to class tomorrow; my kids will appreciate it!
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