I remember the day in 3rd grade when I had no paper, & no one from which to borrow any. Frightened & ashamed, I sat as small as I could at my desk while my classmates prepared for a spelling test. The teacher caught a glimpse of my empty desk & demanded an explanation. Holding back tears as best I could, I confessed that I had nothing to write on. Again. Without missing a beat she said,Then youd better find a way. Dont do nothing. Find some paper or a piece of cardboard from the trash. And before I could really absorb the humiliation of digging through trash in front of my peers, I felt the smallest burning of hope, an appreciation for this creative solution to what a moment before had been an insurmountable obstacle. Another child quietly joined me at the trash can; he also had need of salvaged paper. The other kids watched mesmerized, & I dont recall any snickers or taunts. This changed my perception of poverty, of obstacles, in a way that influences me to this day. There are solutions for almost any problem I encounter if Im willing to think outside the usual parameters. Any wonder that I found a company that uses dance to teach orphans how to learn life skills? :)
Posted on: Wed, 02 Apr 2014 01:40:04 +0000
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