letting go of our stories
"I am writing a lot of words because I am writing the whole story." Max, age 4 (then)
In April of 2004, I sat beside 6 children as they were building a castle of blocks. They brought over the animals and our
papier-mache fruits, and the Fairies and the Great Bird floated down in dress-up. I found my notes the other day.
16 years later, almost to the day. Serendipity is a staple at Corner. Even Now.
This is their Story.
papier-mache fruits, and the Fairies and the Great Bird floated down in dress-up. I found my notes the other day.
16 years later, almost to the day. Serendipity is a staple at Corner. Even Now.
This is their Story.
A long time ago, a proud and mighty Lion lived in a cave in an Ancient Forest. At the edge of the Forest was a large stone Castle with tall towers, and walls that went all the way around. And there was a Gate, that was always kept closed. The People in the Castle were worried that others would try to live there if they Let Anyone In. In fact, the Castle had 2 cannons and many Guards. The Guards worked in shifts, some worked by Day and some worked at Night.
One Day the Guards grew frightened of the Lion, and fired their cannons at the Lion's cave. As it crumbled to the ground, the Lion roared "Why have you destroyed my Home? I mean you no harm." The Guards were too afraid to speak. The Lion came closer, and one of the Guards grew Angry, "We are here to protect the Castle. Your cave was too close so we destroyed it." This confused the Lion for he had always lived in his cave and never once disturbed the Castle. "If you had asked me, I could have protected the Castle with you, but instead you destroyed my Home." The Lion found another cave, and it too was destroyed by the Guards.
This time the Lion ran to the Castle, roaring and baring his teeth, ready to fight the Guards. Sensing Danger, a giant bird flew down from the skies. She was The Guardian of All Life and did not want to see the destruction of the Lion or the Guards. "Humans" she spoke "Why have you angered my Animal and destroyed his Home?" Instead of sharing the Forest, The Humans destroyed their own Castle and built smaller log cabins on the site, but still they fought the Animals. The Great Bird returned, asking again "Humans, why have you angered my Animals and destroyed their Homes?"
Just then a clap of Thunder and a burst of Lightning came down to the Earth. Fire quickly spread toward the log cabins, but the Fairies threw buckets of Water on the Fire, and the Animals stomped out the Sparks. After the Fire subsided the Humans bulldozed the rubble and moved on. The Forest returned and more Fairies appeared. It became a Magical Land once again.
The Humans built a town far away but still they fought. Their fighting destroyed the fields around their homes and soon they had no food. The Great Bird saw this, and called on the Fairies to gather Fruits and Vegetables for The Humans. With the Animals help they brought the food to the edge of the town, but The Humans didn't want Fruits and Vegetables. They wanted Meat. The Great Bird refused to let The Humans eat the Animals and still The Humans refused to share. They kept moving and fighting until they came to the bottom of the Earth, where it was too cold for houses. And they lived there.
Preschoolers know that Humans will keep fighting. And that Needing to Win without regard for Others finds us all headed toward the uninhabitable "bottom of the Earth". We Grown-Ups know that too. But unlike children who are quick to forgive, we forge Grudges, and often choose Blame over Accountability. Commitment to Conflict we call this at Corner, and its presence is a reminder of the unintentional ways we Grown-Ups are Modelling Behaviour.
For me, this unpredictable spring has been an Awakening. And it's Uncomfortable. Too much of some things, not enough of others. Like an unfair advantage on a seesaw. I'm being Called Out by Possibilities, inviting me to Look Within and redefine what Being Human means. To Get My Priorities Straight, as my Dad used to remind me. To let go of my stories defining Self Worth and Identity. To be more like the Fairies and the Great Bird. More Kindness. More Faith. More Willingness to offer Second (and third) Chances.
Possibilities... I believe we are all brimming with Possibilities. Even Now.
One Day the Guards grew frightened of the Lion, and fired their cannons at the Lion's cave. As it crumbled to the ground, the Lion roared "Why have you destroyed my Home? I mean you no harm." The Guards were too afraid to speak. The Lion came closer, and one of the Guards grew Angry, "We are here to protect the Castle. Your cave was too close so we destroyed it." This confused the Lion for he had always lived in his cave and never once disturbed the Castle. "If you had asked me, I could have protected the Castle with you, but instead you destroyed my Home." The Lion found another cave, and it too was destroyed by the Guards.
This time the Lion ran to the Castle, roaring and baring his teeth, ready to fight the Guards. Sensing Danger, a giant bird flew down from the skies. She was The Guardian of All Life and did not want to see the destruction of the Lion or the Guards. "Humans" she spoke "Why have you angered my Animal and destroyed his Home?" Instead of sharing the Forest, The Humans destroyed their own Castle and built smaller log cabins on the site, but still they fought the Animals. The Great Bird returned, asking again "Humans, why have you angered my Animals and destroyed their Homes?"
Just then a clap of Thunder and a burst of Lightning came down to the Earth. Fire quickly spread toward the log cabins, but the Fairies threw buckets of Water on the Fire, and the Animals stomped out the Sparks. After the Fire subsided the Humans bulldozed the rubble and moved on. The Forest returned and more Fairies appeared. It became a Magical Land once again.
The Humans built a town far away but still they fought. Their fighting destroyed the fields around their homes and soon they had no food. The Great Bird saw this, and called on the Fairies to gather Fruits and Vegetables for The Humans. With the Animals help they brought the food to the edge of the town, but The Humans didn't want Fruits and Vegetables. They wanted Meat. The Great Bird refused to let The Humans eat the Animals and still The Humans refused to share. They kept moving and fighting until they came to the bottom of the Earth, where it was too cold for houses. And they lived there.
Preschoolers know that Humans will keep fighting. And that Needing to Win without regard for Others finds us all headed toward the uninhabitable "bottom of the Earth". We Grown-Ups know that too. But unlike children who are quick to forgive, we forge Grudges, and often choose Blame over Accountability. Commitment to Conflict we call this at Corner, and its presence is a reminder of the unintentional ways we Grown-Ups are Modelling Behaviour.
For me, this unpredictable spring has been an Awakening. And it's Uncomfortable. Too much of some things, not enough of others. Like an unfair advantage on a seesaw. I'm being Called Out by Possibilities, inviting me to Look Within and redefine what Being Human means. To Get My Priorities Straight, as my Dad used to remind me. To let go of my stories defining Self Worth and Identity. To be more like the Fairies and the Great Bird. More Kindness. More Faith. More Willingness to offer Second (and third) Chances.
Possibilities... I believe we are all brimming with Possibilities. Even Now.
"If I had influence with the good fairy who is supposed to preside over the christening of all children
I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life,
as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years, the sterile preoccupation with things artificial,
the alienation from the sources of our strength." Rachel Carson --Silent Spring, 1962
I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life,
as an unfailing antidote against the boredom and disenchantments of later years, the sterile preoccupation with things artificial,
the alienation from the sources of our strength." Rachel Carson --Silent Spring, 1962