Here’s the dictionary definition of “joy:”

‘There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life.’

Frederico Fellini Film Director
A beautiful day today — glorious sun, a not so glorious autumn color due to so much rain, good smells and too much food at the fair, the company of good friends, the hugs and kisses of little and big family members, and life itself.  Today I am happy.  Today I am alive.  Today I’m even almost totally rested.

Here’s to the beginning of another year of beauty and passion.  Here’s even to the Tuesday morning that will come this week when I must put in a 12 hour day.  Today I am thinking about gratefulness.

Play is not only a way to learn and retain valuable life knowledge, but a relaxation moment so important to our overall health.  I’ve had a long, intense, and delightful September teaching and learning with students.  I’m ready to play.  The weekend will be sunny for the first time in weeks (and I mean weeks of rain here in New England), and I intend to be out in it: walking, hiking, sitting, recharging and thinking.  Oh, I have plenty of house repair jobs, and a lawn and a garden that could use my time – but I’m going to play.

It’s about a month old, but I found this posting on Huffington Post about the attack on young children’s play.  It says it all.  Think carefully about the importance of play, to you, your family and yourself.  Play a little, play a lot, this weekend.  You’ll feel better for it!   Today I’m thinking about play.

Well, I have to laugh this morning as I begin to write the first entry.  I got up very early on this first day of school to do some online research and writing only to discover that my Internet is down.  So the piece I was going to look up to read is inaccessible, not to mention a dictionary, and a few sites to use as resources.

This is flexibility – perhaps it’s best to be reminded of this important quality of teaching and learning on the first day of my venture.  As an early childhood teacher, I had plans, often elaborately written plans, that would quickly fly out the window when a child would come to school of a morning bursting with an important story to tell.  A story that begged for new reference books, new explanations, new desires to reproduce in blocks or clay or art products.  And a new story that would certainly entice classmates to pursue with you.  As a community college teacher, we think we are less waylaid by student needs to explore and know and learn; but even then, the best classes for me are those where this does indeed occur.  The questions entice, the disagreements flow as students work to understand  and connect this new piece of knowledge with old.

And, I don’t know about other geographic areas, but certainly here in New England, sometimes we are forced to be flexible simply because the weather has another plan for us.  Thanks to Irene, his past week has been one of rescheduled first days, reorganized spaces and bus rides, and even different buildings assigned wherein to have your first day of class – certainly bravo to these teachers and students.

So this morning’s lack of Internet asks me to consider my own thoughts on this first day of teaching, without referencing the great article my college’s President sent out yesterday (and thanks to Facebook, appeared on social media about the same time), or even information about just what is 100 days.  A dozen years or so ago when I was in the early care and education classroom, nowhere  was noted that day.  But, I know from my work supervising student teachers, 100 days is a part of the curriculum (here is where I would insert a link to a few books).

This morning, I am as I always am on the first day of class, a bit anxious.  I want to set a tone with my college students of one of your time will be well spent, you will learn something interesting, not only about some topic but yourself as well (and this will surprise you), but you will begin to experience the fascination, the thrill and yes, the joy, of learning.  Because that is what makes a life-long learner, the excitement of making connections between content and our lives. Many haven’t experienced this yet, but I have and the thrill of teaching for me is working to turn a student onto this life experience.  I also get overwhelmed with the job attached to teaching.  When I was a preschool teacher, on bad days, I would say “if only these children didn’t have parents.”  What I was bemoaning was the other part of teaching – not just the passing of knowledge along to someone, but the important, valuable and often most difficult work of setting the stage: the politics of an organization within which one works.

No other feelings last for long though, as I anticipate walking into the classroom and greeting these students who, I know when I remind myself, are just as anxious and excited as I am.

Here’s to first days of school everywhere!  Bring on the joy!

It was breathtaking and awe inspiring. I always find joy in music and especially in the skill and beauty of young people performing. Four students individually played their protest songs. In between these shared songs were small groups of other students who held posters of Gandhi’s writings and teachings while they read quotes and explained his life and his work. The only thing I wished for was personal reflections (but then that’s always of interest to me – I like to hear how people reflect and weave into their own lives the lives and works of others.)

As we were waiting for the event to begin, I was reflecting with the two people beside me what was our favorite Gandhi quote. I came home to find mine:

“I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test. Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [woman] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself, if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [her]. Will he [she] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [her] to a control over his [her] own life and destiny? In other words, will it lead to swaraj [freedom] for the hungry and spiritually starving millions?
Then you will find your doubts and your self melt away.”

– One of the last notes left behind by Gandhi in 1948, expressing his deepest social thought.

Source: Mahatma Gandhi [Last Phase, Vol. II (1958), P. 65]

As we face a most historic and important Presidential vote in our country (no matter which candidate wins, there is history in the making), what can Gandhi give to our lives to inform both our vote and our response to the results on the next day? How will these students use this experience to inform their lives as they go forward on their journey – or will they?

Gandhi, my grandmother, these students and so many others in my life have given me the opportunity to understand and be reminded that peace is possible. It is with me each day in small and large ways. These students carry forward the work necessary to ensure all peoples around the world have what they need; in their small and valuable piece of the world Gandhi’s work continues. This is a hard and challenging task in the face of the cost of filling our gas tasks, our home fuel tanks, and our refrigerators.

I thank these students for their reminder that it is in everyone of us to create peace. I thank these students for filling my heart today.