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This week I celebrated my birthday, the end of another school year and the graduation of one of my cousins from high school. In the midst of all these significant moments what stood out the most to me is how much I am enjoying the simpler moments in my life. What was evident when I stopped to reflect on every special day of this week, was the empty spaces.
The celebration of my birthday, as joyous as it was had an empty space...one of my uncles who passed away last year was missing. On the last day of school several of my colleagues were missing because they have been laid off beacuse of budget cuts. The garduation of my cousin left an empty space where the little girl I used have tea parties for had disappeared and has now become a young woman.
Even with all of these empty spaces I would not change or add anything to fill them back up, because things happen as they should and when they should. Such is the cycle of life, a lesson one could miss about the simpler side of life. How will these reflection affect my practices in the classroom?
Hara Hachi bu, quite simply. As years go by, I have gained an appreciation for keeping thing simple including my presentation style. I am going to present information differently...and reach more people because of that.
It sounds like this was a small milestone for you this week in a very busy year. I like how you connected the events in your life to the advice given to us in the Presentation Zen book on creating empty space. Within the empty space you can truly find out what's most important! Isn't crazy to think that in just 2 months you'll be started a new crazy year all over again!
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday Tracey :) Thank you for sharing the changes and the empty spaces opening in your life. In our presentations it is OK, if not encouraged, to have empty spaces to accentuate our main points and ideas.
ReplyDeleteIn our personal lives when people move-on or pass away the empty spaces can be sad. My mother recently had several dear friends pass away and she was getting down. I had time with her and encouraged her to help fill the empty spots by making new friends and getting-out.
I have learned to slow down and enjoy all the simple goodness this life has to offer us. We just need to notice the journey and all the people, places and beauty around us. A few years ago I saw a sign on a church that read, 'Live Simply, That Others Might Simply Live'. I downsized my life of clutter and I feel much freer to enjoy clouds, animals and the people around me.