Cause a smile!

On one of my many subway journeys of the weekend, I was standing, people watching, by myself with my headphones (providing a Beck - Morning Phase soundtrack) and I happened to notice a young couple. She was sitting, looking up at him. He was standing, looking down to her. They were laughing. Talking. Whispering. Giggling. Oblivious to those around them. Obviously very happy to be in each other's company. As the train arrived at a stop it was clear he was about to leave. There was some close whispering, more laughter and big smiles. He stepped off. She watched him go. She looked at the floor and played with her scarf.

Then she turned to look for him through the train window but was blocked by the solid wall of the station doors. She returned to her scarf twisting.

Meanwhile, he had walked down to the next carriage door and peered in, searching for a final goodbye glance. Unfortunately there were too many commuters standing in the way and the doors closed on a disappointed smile. The train moved off.

I may have been the only person who noticed what had happened. They had both searched for that final goodbye glance but both missed. Neither of them knew. In that moment I wished I could tell them what had happened.

I watched her alight at the next station and noticed that her bright smile had faded. Just a little.

And this morning, I wondered if that's not a little bit like parents sending their children off to school. We, as teachers, see their children doing amazing things. Little things. Big things. Things that don't really matter. And things that really do. And too often we let those moments pass without letting anybody know. I am sure If I had stopped the young lady on the train and told her about how her friend had searched for her before he left, her smile would have lasted all day.

So, as you go about your important business this week of encouraging students to learn, and you have the privilege of witnessing little things, or big things, or things that really matter, please take a moment to share those moments. Share them with the student and then take a moment to send an email home sharing that little, big or important thing with parents.

Mother Theresa said it very well when she said, "We shall never know all the good that a simple smile can do."