A Lesson in Wonderfulness

This may sound elementary…

They gathered around the colorful squares of the rug, like any other day, chatting and fidgety at first, but then slowly becoming still and attentive. 

“Today I have something very important to talk to you about, so I need you to pay close attention.” 

Their faces looked a touch worried. 

“One fact is certain."

"Inside of each of you is what I call ‘a ball of wonderfulness.’” Pause for effect. “Yeah I know it sounds kind of weird, huh?” (giggles). “But it’s true! And it’s true for everyone! Look around the circle. Every single one of us has it! Hold the ball in your hands. Can you feel it?”

They hovered their 9-year old hands in front of their faces, grasping an imaginary ball, grinning at their neighbor. 

“Slowly, slowly bring that ball down through you head and let it stop in your chest, in your heart space. This is where it lives. Close your eyes and see it glowing really brightly.”

Visualization for third-graders? Yeah, Maybe.. but it’s kind of hard to focus with the class-clown sitting next to you…

The speech continued, and they sat attentive. As though they had paid for the discourse. They nodded their heads thoughtfully, sincerely, and at the appropriate moments.

I went on about the permanence of the ‘ball of wonderfulness’. Our eternal light. Immutable, indestructible —though it can be hidden. 

We hide it all the time in fact! And that’s because we forget about it! And when we forget about the ‘ball of wonderfulness,’ well… we forget about how wonderful we are. So we try other things to make us feel wonderful. We show off. Do and say things to make others think we are the best, the coolest. We gossip about others, tell secrets, make jokes at another’s expense. And in doing so, we continue to hide our light even further.

It’s a lesson for my third grade students, yes. Tailored to the situations they face (with customary warnings about the dangers of middle-school, and not being true to yourself). But it’s a lesson in remembrance for us all. 

So readily we forget about our own light. About the inherent glow of our own magnificence, throbbing and pulsing within. It’s more us than anything else. More than the clothes we wear. More than the job we do. More than our own name or the personality we carry. 

‘The Ball of Wonderfulness’ is a lesson has been taught all over the world time and time again, in every which way. By teachers, in books, in song, and even through thoughts while in silent contemplation. But it often needs repeating. 

I urge you little ones, do not be so quick to forget.