Day 315- "Let It Be"

I know that sometimes my extreme optimism may come off as naivety.  I get that.  People give me looks like, "Oh, isn't that sweet.  She'll learn."  Here's the thing, though.  I hope I never "learn."  I hope I don't grow out of this.  This optimism is what drives me and what I think will make me good at my job and what sends me full force forward on ideas that other people find reason after reason not to pursue.  It's easy to be negative and cynical, but it's not productive.  I believe that it is so much harder to be optimistic, even when you are given every reason not to be, but it is much more rewarding. 

I received some validation today, fuel for my fire.  I'd like to take credit for it, but I was the just facilitator.  My kids were the creators of the moment.  We are working on figurative language in poetry, which is not everyone's cup of tea. I gave them a warm-up with lines from three different Beatles songs, and they had to identify the type of figurative language in each one.  While they were working, I played a little playlist I had made with all of the songs on it. 

The first song was one of my all-time favorites, "Let It Be."  I had been humming it all morning, hoping that my kids didn't notice (or that if they did, they were mildly amused and didn't talk about how crazy I was once they left my room).  Then, in third hour, I noticed that I wasn't the only one.  I heard a few other hummers scattered around the room, and I saw some feet tapping.  Then, we had our first singer.  The second singer wasn't far behind.  And the third.  And the fourth.  Before I knew it, almost the entire class was singing along.  They were belting it out, swaying happily from side to side, looking around at each other, and grinning from ear to ear. 

I jokingly said to them, "Aww... I'm so happy I could almost cry."  But then I almost did.  Pull it together, Mrs. Ferri.  In that moment, none of the patronizing looks or "No, that won't work"s entered my mind.  Instead, I simply thought it's possible.  The rainbows.  The sunshine.  The peace, love and happiness.  All of it.  It's totally possible.  These kids frustrate me daily with their late work and laziness and constant need to shout things out for attention, but they also amaze me on a daily basis with the size and capacity of their hearts.  We shared something special today, something that I have always dreamed of.  I can't wait until our next moment.  The beautiful thing is that I know as long as I keep believing there will be more moments, there will.  It's as simple as that.

Thank you, "Let It Be," you made my day.