This is an adaptation of a posting I put on my AP blog. I am reading a book called Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. It is fascinating and I highly recommend it to anyone interested in Islamic culture and literature. I have marked so many passages and turned down so many corners because I am just waiting for someone to come along who wants to talk to me about a book. :) (I know, I might be waiting a LONG time.) Anyway, here is the passage that stuck out to me so much and reminded me of my students at this point in their life journeys:
It is written at a point when the author is considering leaving Iran for the United States.
"You get a strange feeling when you're about to leave a place, I told him, like you'll not only miss the people you love but you'll miss the person you are now at this time and this place, because you'll never be this way ever again."
What do you think? Do you ever have that feeling that you are going to miss the person you are now, that things are changing?
The title of that book, is that spanish for Reading Lolita in The Rain? Ok, I know that was lame, but that's the first thing I thought of when I read the title.
ReplyDeleteMoving on.
I totally get that passage. Although I don't think I'll miss the person I am now, I DO miss the person I used to be. You know, the fun one. (You might not have known me that far back:-) ) In my opinion, that passage could describe every person who goes through high school and then again at the end of college. Something about those years, the beginning of independence, developing relationships, becoming an adult; we experience incredible freedom without much responsibility. It's exhilarating, and I think we know it at the time. It's hard to let go of.
I think once you get past that stage in your life, things don't change quite as drastically. Marriage, children, careers, those all bring change, but somehow, it just doesn't impact you the way it does when you leave those teenage years behind.
I also believe it shows a mark of true wisdom to think fondly on those times in your life when you were THAT person, but be able to embrace who you are now. As in, I USED to be fun, but my children have inherited that and now all I can be is grumpy.
Amy, I love to "hear" you write. :) I completely know what you mean. I remember especially paydays when I was in college. I lived at home, so my money was still, essentially, MY money! It was the best feeling ever, all that money to be spent on whatever, all for me! Now I don't even know when payday is because I never SEE the money. ;) That's the person I miss.
ReplyDeleteAt the same time, I think I'll miss the person I am right now. I worry sometimes that I'm at the height of my career, that as I get older I will get more out of touch with the kids and won't find as much favor and be as effective. That is probably stupid but I do worry about it.
I also worry that as my children get older, things [in the midst of writing this, I had to spank Emma then proceeded to yell at her... so what I am about to say is probably very likely to happen...] will change between us. I see so many parents of older children and teenagers who are so out of touch with each other, and I never want to lose what we have now.
At the same time, I agree with you Amy, that it does show true wisdom to see it that way. Not only that, but I think that to know that you WILL miss the person you are now indicates that you LIKE the person you are now and how contented you are.
Is it possible to miss things from each stage of the person you are? I THINK so.
ReplyDeleteYep, very much with you on the payday thing. I laughed, thinking of my bank account back then.
Regarding you being at the height of your career, I'm betting you'll be asked to consider administration at some point, so, to quote Michael Scott on The Office, "You have no idea how high (you) can fly." And I mean that as a compliment. To your awesomeness.
I also find myself to be "in touch' with the kids out there. In my head, anyway. I don't think you will ever be out of touch with the kids. I think you must have an understanding of how to say what they need to hear and a way in which they absorb it without feeling threatened. Somehow, you let them continue to think they know it all while giving them a push in the right direction. I think people like that will never lose favor and effectiveness.
Just the other day, I realized Isaac is a full blown kid. He's not a toddler anymore. He's a kid. With kid attitudes and kid stink-eye looks. Sigh. He's cool now and all. But I will miss his toddler stuff. And I am betting I will miss his kid eye-rolling when he gets to the teenager eye-rolling.
By the way, I love this blog. This is great!