Every day, the best place is found in the middle. A very wise friend once told me the following. “Yesterday is history. Tomorrow is a mystery. Today is a gift.” Sandwiched between what was and what will be is today. With no hope of changing the past or the writing the future, we need to get with it and make today the best it can be.
Everyone values time differently. Make no mistake, it’s the one thing you can never get back. It never goes on sale. A minute is worth 60 seconds whether it is in the morning, afternoon, or evening. Passing at a constant speed, it’s a personal decision on how minutes are used and everyone does that a little differently.
As a 3rd Grade teacher, one of the first lessons shared was about the available teaching minutes in a school day. We had 340 teachable minutes. Listing everything my eager students wanted to learn and do during the school year, we then dealt with the reality. The school district required 180 minutes for language arts, 85 minutes for mathematics, 22 minutes for physical education, 30 minutes for Social Studies AND Science. That left a whopping 23 minutes for the Pledge of Allegiance, roll call and lunch count, art, music, drama, story time, and a little fun. Get the picture?
During the first week of each school year, we would brainstorm how minutes could be bankrolled to give us extra time to create the fun that 3rd Grade is supposed to be. My students were creative. We always found time to create dramatic plays, and work on cursive handwriting (not required, but taught). It was all about time management, even under the watchful eye of a very strict and performance based principal. When there’s a will, there’s a way.
While teaching, the middle was a great place to be. Children change by the hour. Something horrible happens in the morning, and by the afternoon, three great things have already replaced the bad. Grouchy moms would drop off their children with complaints and worries. Just hours later, they would return in smiles and complimentary remarks. In the middle, I found fun, peace, acceptance, and love from my students. After all, we didn’t have the minutes to waste anywhere else. There wasn’t time for drama or grudges. Things happen. Life moves on. Get on the bus or get left behind. It’s all a choice.
I miss those days of meeting goals and growth. Of watching a class of silly little squirrels turn into responsible children while working together to create an educational atmosphere in Room 20, where teachable moments were everywhere you looked. Somedays, the Winterpast is pretty quiet.
My best minutes, as you already know, are in the morning hours of darkness. This morning, the wind continues to howl. Zephyr Winds as Mark Twain called them. You can hear them racing from miles away, exactly like the rumble of freight train. The closer they get, the louder. Like ocean waves, they blow over Winterpast. One blast after another.
Ninja Neighbor was out last night waiting for Mr. B, Master of the Gardens. We were both considering whether or not to turn the water off, yet again. It’s a process that is best done during the day. Mr. B had just turned mine on two weeks ago. He’s not turning his own water off. I decided to take a chance and leave mine on. Ninja Neighbor is going the safe route and turning hers off. With a forecast of freezing nights for five days in a row, we’ll sit tight and see who was right.
This week, my minutes are totally consumed. From Jeep maintenance to Easter Dinner for ten, I’ll need to count my minutes and make choices on how to spend them. Precious time on which to paint beautiful memories. It’s all we have in life.
Time is a marvelous gift. Just what will you choose to do with yours today?
More tomorrow.