I watched Benjamin Zander’s TED video and was mesmerized. I shared him with my high school painting class and my student teacher. They were inspired, she cried. I read the first 3 chapters of his book and was hooked. His stories and his enthusiasm were nearly viral.
Teaching visual art generally provides an opportunity for inspiring that “shiny eyed look” in students that Zander mentions. When Zander talks of the “invitation to possibility”, I feel transported. Something akin to the first time I visited Second Life with my buddies from month 1 – new and perfect. Invention is the key – I think I can invent new possibilities that allow new choices in my sleep after the last 10 months. I can realize the perfect life. I often answer just like that girl in the restaurant – perfect.
I am a yoga junkie, you see. And for those of you who don’t know, we “practice” yoga. Not until we get good at it, but for life. I knew that this book and the Zanders’ philosophy about life was for me when I saw that there was “practice” involved. Practice that involves transforming my life; I am in. Practice that involves perfection; intriguing. Practice that involves thinking “outside the box”, finally something a visual artist can understand!
Time to learn to “see”. Just like I teach “seeing” in visual art. Step #2 in the practice is possibility. There are these moments when we forget ourselves, and become part of the universe. I could easily make a list, a list of perfect moments. I am lucky, I have a lot of those. Onward to the next practice, now. And glad to know that I haven’t “arrived” even though my world is “perfect” – just like the girl in the restaurant.
Which brings up giving. I am the poster child for “giving”. I am a mom of two, a wife, a teacher, a coach, a good listener, and “giving” is my middle name. I can write the letter about deserving an “A”, but just ask my kids, my husband, my students, or my players, friends or colleagues and you will get a unanimous chorus – give her an “A” before she “gives” herself to death! If I wrote this letter 10 months ago, defending my “A”, it would say that I never give up, that I truly care and that I don’t accept defeat or failure in myself or the people in my life. This is not out of a search for perfection but out of the “practice” of such a life.
