As I looked on from the side, watching his way-too-cool-for-grade-two jeans and t-shirt move with him as he animatedly spoke with his peers, I imagined this child as a teenager -- I could literally "see" him 10 years down the road; physically and mentally. The glimmers of his future skills and talents were strong enough to give insight into what could be, given all the right inputs and circumstances over the next decade in his life. It was amazing!
It got me thinking about a session I facilitated last week with the instructors at the school where I am learning to fly: Although I lecture my university students all the time about authentic classroom management, and being a risk-taker and all of that, I myself did not act with grace. One person in the group was clearly out of sorts, and rather than confront him privately while everyone else was working on another task, I chose to ignore his behaviour, hoping that by doing so, he would cease being a royal pain and disruption. Alas, even had he done so (he didn't, btw, so my strategy was shit!), he would likely not have taken anything in anyway, which would have served only me and not him.
I realise now that I spent the evening looking at this fellow as he was, rather than as how he could become. (If I could do it over, I would wander nonchalantly over to his table and -- in a low-key manner -- recognize his emotional state, apologise for my part in it, and invite him to consider getting on board or at least being respectful of others in the room who want to. Then I would offer lots of smiles and positive thoughts rather than angry vibes as I continued the workshop.)
Why don't I give the same grace to my fellow adults that I do to children? So often, my mentor, Thelma, has lectured me on this very topic, urging me to be less judgemental. And yet... I frequently fail in this regard.
I can only imagine if my flight instructor(s) saw me only as the pilot I am/was, rather than the pilot I could become!!!
(Thankfully, Lari seems to be better at vision and grace than I am.)