Teaching has provided plenty of opportunities for me to practice patience, acceptance, and living in the moment. It has also been a humbling reminder that I still have such a long way to go. When I start to master being patient in one context, I am inevitably provided with a new situation and I start the process of practicing patience all over again.
Some of my students are really strong in English, others can’t conjugate the verb to be. Some students are willing to participate, others are like stone. Since I only see each student once every two or three weeks it is hard to know what I am in for. Sometimes I take on a group of students who I know are strong, but they are tired and having an off day. The result is; I have to live in the moment, and work with what I’ve got.
I know that if I become frustrated or impatient my students will become withdrawn and they will feel bad about themselves. My defense against impatience is encourage, encourage, encourage. Slowly, I’m genuinely starting to be more patient and truly happy with however my students arrive to me. It’s been work though, and I have a lot more work to do. It’s hard to be patient if I’m tired or having an off day, but I’m getting better. Fortunately I don’t have very many tired days.
1 comment:
"I have to live in the moment, and work with what I’ve got."
That's the story of life, Jamie. The Far Eastern philosophies have been preaching that concept for centuries. It is one of the keys to a satisfying life. Go for it!
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