The Spark in their eyes

Most times when I step out of home on my way to conduct either story telling at the library or a sandplay therapy session with some kid, I will inevitably be asking myself silently "Why am I doing such crazy stuff?". My body prefers to relax at home and my mind conjures images of me making a fool of myself at storytelling or fighting sleepiness to remain attentive to the kid at the sand-tray.

Yet almost all the time I will leave the sessions with a spring in my steps and a lift in the heart. Yesterday after trying to figure out what happens at these sessions I conclude it must be the light in the children's eyes that is so infectious and which catches onto me. When the story takes an exciting turn you can literally see many pairs of sparkling eyes like gleaming cats' eyes in the dark. I am also puzzled why at story telling ideas and words flow so spontaneously that I can effortlessly put more spice into the story. Such creativity never ever shows up in any other area of my life, least of all at my previous career when I am often tongue tied when answering to my bosses.

Sandplay sessions however can be quite draining on the facilitator especially when the child tells a disturbing sand-story and the facilitator's psychic relates to it. However after the sand-story the kids at the children's home love to share about things happening in school and at the Home. Perhaps it was the fact that no one hears them out, you can literally see the twinkle in their eyes when you chat with them attentively and warmly. Maybe they are imagining me as their mum or grandma, who knows.

Yes it is that glow in their eyes that puts that quiet smile on my face and a spring in my steps after each session.

Doris Lessing in one of her novels:  "...the wonderful way children both know and do not know the facts, can believe in a fairy tale with one part of their minds and know it is not true with the other. It is a great, nourishing saving ability, and if a child doesn't achieve this capacity it may be in trouble."

I guess its my saving ability too!