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Little things give big joy
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Published: November 13, 2008
I got to preschool a little early the other day, and had the chance to peek around the corner of the building, watching Ben and his classmates on the playground.
My 4-year-old was standing by himself, under a big tree, holding both arms up to the sky. As he started to turn in circles, I felt my heart tighten a little. Why wasn't he playing with anyone? Was he having a hard day?
Then I saw his face light up and he reached higher, trying to catch a golden leaf as it floated to the ground. He chased it around ... and missed.
It didn't seem to faze him, though. He just stood still again, looking up at the tree, arms raised hopefully above his head.
The teachers started singing the clean up song, and all around him, children swarmed, picking up shovels and riding bikes back to their parking spots.
But he still stood there, hoping against hope to catch a leaf.
Suddenly, a big gust of wind blew through and leaves started raining down. He ran around in circles, grasping at them and laughing. Then he dove to the ground, his little hand shooting up like an all-star making the game winning catch, clutching one one yellow leaf.
He ran to his teacher, yelling "I did it! I did it!"
After high-fives were exchanged, he lined up with his class and started to walk back inside. When he got to the car, he was still holding that leaf, and he was still smiling.
Later, his teacher told me Ben spent the entire recess under that big tree. She said he never got frustrated or discouraged. Every time he'd miss a leaf, he'd watch carefully and wait for the next one to come along.
Not a bad way to look at life, actually.
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