Some lessons learned in this spring of 2008:
You can't force someone to grow. I've always known this in my heart, but I suspected that my unwillingness to take a tough approach to teaching came from weakness rather than philosophy. But a recent case study reinforces the stupidity of believing that any of us wield enough power to force another person to learn, to change, to grow. All we can do is provide an environment that allows risk-taking.
Details are double-edged swords. Ignore them at your peril. But fixate on them disproportionately and they become missiles of destruction.
Just when you think they weren't paying attention, kids will demonstrate that they have absorbed more than you ever wanted them to. If only we could pass on only our better traits to the next generation.
Having a tenuous grasp on the past can also be a blessing. Forgetting has its liabilities, but the ability to move on may be a gift.
The biggest lessons come as a surprise. A friend who faces terminal illness with grace, another who lives with faith despite crushing economic hardship, a loved one who has the courage to be happy again.
