The thing that really creates our misery is that gap between expectation and reality. When we come in believing things should be one way, and they are not, it is so painful. I often find myself bumping up against this in my teaching, wanting so desperately for my students to not do this or do that, because I think they should or shouldn’t. I will suffer despite my KNOWING that not everyone will follow the expectations every time. I know, this week, at least one of my students will attempt to put a cone or bucket over their head. I know many will likely talk while I am giving directions. I know there will probably be an incident where one of my students says something that I think is rude or inappropriate. That gap between how I “need” them to behave, and how they inevitably do in all their tiny human glory, is why I become suffer.

So on the eve of our return from Thanksgiving break, as I consider my week ahead, I remind myself not to expect my students to show up any particular way. We may have to relearn some expectations and norms (yes, again). We may have to review how to be safe with our bodies and kind with our words. We will likely have to practice stopping the ball from dribbling and our conversation from happening when I say, “Freeze!” I will prepare for the messy reality of bringing all these human bodies into one place and the beautiful imperfection that it will be.

The more we can mind that gap between expectation and reality, the more we can acknowledge it’s happening, the easier it will be to let go of our need for it to be any different than what it is.