An hour or so later..

I just wrote a too-long post about pretty much nothing, so after posting it and thinking about all I had typed while getting ready for bed, I came to the conclusion that it was not necessary for others to concern themselves with my trivial and as above noted, too long post.

So I deleted it.

Now you will never know what it said - but you aren't missing out on anything.

So, to make this worth something, Updates:

The students start school on Thursday
I'm excited to see them :-)
I have good feelings about teaching and this year in general
I love swimming at the pool (1500 m 3xs a week - pretty good, eh?)
My life is good. Real good. (knock on wood)
I'm about 2/3 of the way finished with the blanket I'm crocheting (I'll post a picture when I'm done)
I made zucchini bites for a potluck tonight and they were rather delicious
I'm getting better at talking with the tongue crib in my mouth - hooray!
Life is wonderful - I am so very blessed.

Hope you are well!

Recipient of Kindness

"Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone else's life forever."

-Margaret Cho
 
There are MANY people that have positively affected my life by the small little things they have said or done: family, friends, leaders, strangers, acquaintances. It is from this latter category of the generosity and kindness of an acquaintance being potentially life-changing that I wish to share a story with you today.
 
In February I went to a national string teacher conference in California. While I was there I met many people from across the country and caught up with previous teachers of my own. On one occasion, I ran into a previous teacher who was talking to another woman (we'll call her "M") and began talking to the both of them. I found out that this other woman was also from the Valley, was soon to be retiring from teaching, and was looking for other private teachers around her area to pass students along to. She asked for my information, which I gave to her, and that was it. I went one way, they went another. I didn't think much of it- if I got a few more students, awesome. If not, oh well.
 
Well, starting in March I began receiving emails from parents inquiring about me giving lessons to their children. These parents had been given my information by this same teacher I met in California. Already, 3 families have expressed interest. So, just by this fact, I was indebted to M, this woman that I had talked to for five minutes for actually passing along my information.
 
Then, in the middle of April, M emailed me. She hoped that I remembered her, and briefly reminded me about her retiring, etc. Then she told me that she was moving to a smaller residence and (due to a lack of storage) had a bunch of teaching stuff that she would like to GIVE to me if I was interested.
 
I felt an overwhelming rush of gratitude as I read this.
 
I replied to her email and we were able to set up a time for me to come over to her house this last Saturday. There she showed me all of these amazing materials- books, music, posters, games, awards, worksheets, flashcards, brightly colored batons- and it was all for me. Well, some of it she is looking to sell, but the other 8 boxes-literally, 8 boxes-were for me. To take. For free.
 
While she showed it to me, I asked her her story- where had she taught, etc. It was very interesting to hear all that she had done, and all that she was planning to do now that she was retired. As I looked at all of these materials, I again was overwhelmed. Why had this woman chosen me to GIVE this stuff to? This was easily worth hundreds of dollars. I asked if there was anything I could give her for this. Her reply? A hug.
 
So we piled it all into my car, filling my trunk and backseat. I asked her if I could stay in touch with her, and she said she would like that.
 
So, this woman, who I BARELY KNOW, has inspired me beyond belief. I feel like everything I do regarding teaching should be to honor her kindness and generosity to me. I don't know how to express my gratitude. I mean, I'm talking about some of the most influential books regarding music education that I have been wait-listing are now sitting in my front room. A WEALTH of knowledge and resources, 10 steps away from me. I really wish there were something I could do that would adequately show her my thanks.
 
So, I hope this story of someone's generosity and kindness has influenced and inspired you today. I know this experience has made me reflect on generosity and kindness, and how I receive it. You don't expect something like this from a stranger, so maybe that is why it has touched me so deeply. Maybe I wrongfully take generosity and kindness for granted when it comes from my family, because they are supposed to give it to me, right?- but wait, they don't have to either. Their generosity, kindness, and love is just as amazing and in need of gratitude. I hope to be able to realize all of the great love and kindness that people show to me, no matter who they are or how our paths have crossed, and show my appreciation and gratitude for who they are and how they have affected my life. I hope to also be the kind of person that chooses to positively affect as many lives as I come in contact with as well.
 
Have a great day!