How many teachers?

I have come to the conclusion that we are surrounded by teachers all day long. On Monday the Southwest gate agent taught me about being calm in the face of a storm; a fellow passenger taught me about courage and cancer. Today the wind is teaching me patience and every day my husband reminds me to take in the sights and sounds of nature, right outside my window.

There are annoying little moths flying around my office right now. My inclination is to swat them and be done with it but, really, they are my teachers too. Hmmm...what is it they have come to teach me? Maybe if I say "welcome teachers," I can shift perspective. In actuality, they haven't come to take my peace of mind; they have come to give me exactly what I need in this moment.

Life's Teachers

Two very important teachers of mine have recently moved on. One of them was in my life for several years and the other for only a few months but both helped me to understand and experience my life with much deeper awareness. When they were gone it was a challenge to let go. I was sure there was so much more I could learn from them. Then it dawned on me...maybe it wasn't so. Could it be that they were in my life for exactly the right amount of time? Could it be that they provided me with the perfect preparation I needed in order to recognize and receive my new teachers? ...Now I'm sure of it.