Head-Long into Life

This shows how I feel about my latest venture.

The girl in this Norman Rockwell painting has determination written all over her face. She is running 'head-long' to her art class, I assume, and she may be a little late.

This is how I describe how I feel about finishing something I started in 2003--my Master's Degree.

• I am determined to get it done--soon, I hope
• I am in a hurry to get started--Jan. if all goes well
• delayed BUT never too late

We all need determination when we face a challenge.  It helps us through the tough times and gives us what we need to rise to the difficult task in front of us.  Without determination we would wither and fade when facing the first bump in the road.

Sometimes a sense of urgency can get us off the 'slow track' and help us simply "get-er-done".  As long as we go 'head-long' into something that we have thoughtfully and carefully discerned to be what we are meant to be--or do--or become. 

• It is never to late to learn.  
• It is never to late to make a difference.  
• It is never to late to make positive changes to ones self or ones community.

  

• It is a waste of time to regret what we have not learned.
•  It is a waste of time and energy to complain about  our lives--whatever the complaint is
• It is a waste of time to worry about things we do not like about our life and community.

We must be willing to be part of the process of change, to reap the reward of that change.

MONTESSORI

• Determination
• Diving head-long into a project
• Sense of urgency

I often see 'determination' on the face of the children I am privileged to work with.  Whether it be to in learning a new song about Venezuela or to place the smallest cube on top of the Pink Tower, just so.  This is a beautiful thing to watch.  We give the children a safe, rich environment to bring that determination and accomplish amazing things.

Children frequently dive 'head-long' into a project and get consumed with finishing that task and accomplish so much more in the process.  Think about a child that finishes all of the Cube Chains.  He/she has counted, organized, laid out and put away, so much work, rugs, counters, number arrows, over several months time.  The child can be truly proud of work well done.

The sense of 'urgency' can be good and not so good.  If it come from the child and he/she is following that voice inside that tells us all when we need to "get-er-done, then that is the voice to listen to.  If the sense of urgency is an impatient parent or teacher, that can be a negative influence on the child's natural development and growth.  This is the delicate balance we contently have to maintain. 

But it is so rewarding and FUN to be a part of the kind of educational system that cares about the child at this basic and unchanging level.  

I am proud to be a Montessorian!