A Quote
Plato suggested a metaphor for the mind: our ideas are like birds fluttering around in the aviary of our brains. But in order for the birds to settle, Plato understood that we needed periods of purpose-free calm.
A Thought
Purpose-free calm! Why is it such a rare commodity in schools?
Is it really true that there’s so much to get through that things can’t be paused, or slowed? Because, in all this chaotic, frazzled rushing, there is very little time for people to think.
And this is no good.
Just think about what calm gives us, especially calm with no purpose or agenda:
A chance to settle and find some peace
An opportunity to feel and get in tune with our emotions
A space to reflect and reset
A time to dream and wonder about new horizons
A lull that helps us tune into the world around us and notice the small, important things
A break from individual pursuits that allow us to connect meaningfully with others
The potential for serendipity to catch us and sweep us away
An opening for flights of fancy that help us explore ‘what if’
A gap for flashes of insight to illuminate new paths.
These all have a sense of ‘slow’ to them. I don’t think we should be afraid of slow. Slow means that you can go fast when you need to, because proper slowness allows inspiration to bubble up, and it’s inspiration that drives our motivation.
But you know this, because you’ve felt it.
An Action
Give your students the power to determine when they need to have some purpose-free calm.
If this worries you, that’s ok. But there’s a difference between someone needing some time for purpose-free calm, and someone being purpose-less. It’s the latter you need to worry about.
A big thanks to those of you who have upgraded to the paid plan. I hope you enjoyed this month’s essay on collaboration (in which I try to show the difference between collaboration and cooperation) as much as I enjoyed writing it.