As Mister Rogers sang (and I'm probably going to cry here but in a good way) "It's you I like. It's not the things you wear. Not the way you do your hair. It's you I like. That's what I'm aiming to keep alive was his huge, loving heart, the size of the ocean with room for all. If you are sad, I'm sad too. Trouble shared is trouble halved. And if you're glad, then by golly let's be glad together! There's so much to be glad about on this beautiful big blue marble we call home. And there are some sad things too, like wars and people not getting enough to eat. I care about that too.
And sometimes people we love aren't happy for whatever reason. That's hard. But right here and now, I want to tell you that it is okay for you to be happy, even if they can't be. You're not happy because they are sad. I've said this before. You are happy because you're having chicken nuggets (right, Emmett) or you found the moon for us (thank you, Flora). Maybe it's because you configured a Po Teletubby hat from coat hanger (clever Lucian) and now you've shared it with little brother Max. Or because you mastered that song on the piano (Milo) or skied down the hill just like an Olympian (Juno)
So much to be happy about. But when you're not, it's okay too. No one is happy all the time. How would we know what joy is unless we know what sadness is. Mr. Kahlil Gibran taught us that in his poem On Joy and Sorrow. That's another one that makes me cry but also in a good way. It's even okay to be angry. We can probably agree it's best for everyone if we don't hurt anyone while we are angry. But if you do (and most of us have, even Teacher Omi, old as she is) you can try to fix it. Start by feeling sorry, then tell the person you hurt that you are sorry. Let them tell you how they feel about it. Then say what you are going to try to do differently so you don't do it again. Last, try really hard to do just that. And it doesn't hurt to do an extra kind deed for them.
We all do things it would be better if we didn't. Like yell at someone or hit them or take or break something of theirs. And sometimes we don't do things it would be better to do. Such as help mom or dad or fold the clothes without fussing. I find it helps to try and find out why I did or didn't do those things. Sometimes I'm surprised at what I find. Perhaps I'm a little jealous or mad that someone has something I don't. Or I'm sad that my picture doesn't look as nice as theirs.
But the more I think about it, the more I see that I don't want their toys. I might just like one of my own. So I can ask my Omi if she could get it for my birthday. (Lola, are you still loving your Evie doll? It made Omi happy to send it because it made you happy and it reminds me of my Chrissy doll) And Ezra and Remus, I want you to know that Opi took a long time choosing your excavators because you are so important to him.
So that's one thing I could do. Or I could do extra chores to earn the money. And as for the picture, I can ask sister to show me how she made it. Or I can explore new ways to draw things. Or I could look at my picture and see the nice things about it.
You brainstorm about ways you could solve this problem.
You can also ask God (however you understand him/her/them) for help. I think God loves it when we reach out for help. At least that's what the Bible I read says. We are told God is waiting with open arms for us to run into them. Like dad or mom. Or grandma and grampa. I hope that you all have people in your lives whom you love and who love you.
So drop me a comment-- what do you do when you are sad or lonely? We can help each other find ways to feel better. Picture is me smiling at you!
Love always, Teacher Omi
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