Ryan cannot find words and I am having a difficult time writing...
“Teaching is all about relationships,” is something that a friend and co-director of the Boise State Writing Project continually reminded us during last year’s summer institute. At that point, I was really thinking about relationships in a very superficial way. My relationships were really about my life being better or my school day going better. My intent was not to be present for others, to be there for them. I am sure that if I had done my “head-up check-up” (thanks Jamie) it would have been all to evident that my motives were all about me and not my students, peers, etc. If I am going to move to a contemplative practice in my teaching, I need to be remember that these relationships are about others.
It was evident to me today in Beau’s presentation that he was lead to some contemplative practice in his classroom. It made me rethink my own project and my desire to connect with my project in a real contemplative way. I was inspired by the insights that Beau shared and the reflective process he went through that allowed him to be more present for his students.
(I guess this is one of those times that you all will listen to me tell one of those stories that sounds more like Blah Blah Blah!)
Ryan, this is good and I can't do it justice at the moment - I was very moved and just don't have the words right now but this is not blah, blah, blah to me.
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