The genius of children

"Children are geniuses at raising the bar for themselves, clearing it, and then setting it one notch higher.  Working with children raises the bar for me, and for everyone else whose lives they touch.  They inspire us to dig deeper for the strength to do what feels hardest, what's scariest.  And to do that, we have to once again become young at heart. ... Much has been written about how important it is for adults to be good role models in modeling effective behavior for children.  What I've discovered again and again is that children are models of courage and character for adults, if we only pay attention to them. ... People tend to think of children as weak and vulnerable, as fragile little people.  In my experience, they're giants.  They have immense and open hearts.  Their minds can expand to encompass any reality.  Their bodies and souls are amazingly resilient.  And their spirits can soar in the face of enormous physical and psychic pain.  What we often mistake for fragility in children is their openness to experience everything.  I believe it's this quality of openness - of heart, mind, and spirit - that makes children so resilient in the face of life-threatening illnesses, or any other obstacle in their path."

-- Dr. Fred Epstein, in his book, "if I get to five," a tribute to the hidden strengths of childhood and the unstoppable life force that dwells within each of us

This book, my current read, is leaving me sobbing on just about every other page.  It is both tragic and uplifting.  And this is because it is reminding me once again of what life is truly meant to be - a full-out, passionate adventure, in the face of all that the world can bring.  And children so understand this and live this way. 

I will be especially observant this morning with my little boy - my little coach, Jake - as he teaches me this important lesson for the thousandth time or so.  It's a lesson so worth repeating every day.  And yes, C.G., this one's for K.