Is It Just Me?

Is it just me or do you sometimes get lost in your own thoughts even when there’s so much going on around you?

I had been thinking about something I had seen on the news earlier that day when, out of nowhere, the co-teacher suddenly turned to me.

Mrs. T announces to the pre-K, “Miss Nancy will sing some songs with you.”

I’m thinking to myself, “What just happened? Why did she call on me now?” while simultaneously racking my brain for a song they’d like to hear. My heart is beating fast and I see all 32 eyes on me. They are watching and waiting to see what I’d do.

Singing shakily, I start, “The wheels on the…”

Immediately all of the kids begin exuberantly singing using circular hand motions.

Jacob happily starts belting out the next verse, “The driver on the bus said move on back…” and we all move our arms overhead, front to back, in rhythm to the words as we sing. Without a pause, we sing the next song, first crawling our hands up and down like an imaginary spider, then swooshing our arms to the side to wash away the rain with gusto.

Singing along loudly, with emotion, we all are rock stars at a live concert. Minutes later, when the set ends, the kids are giggling and appearing so pleased with themselves. Even I am grinning ear to ear as I hold up the quiet sign to settle them down.

That day I was grateful for the push and reminder to really be present in life and in the moments that are happening right in front of you.

“Get out of your head and get into your heart. Think less, feel more.” — Rajneesh