We (the new staff I am in training with) went on a short and sweet night "hike" the other night. We were to walk alone and then find a place in the grass to relax and reflect for a bit. As I walked down the hill through the woods I initally thought about how much I hate walking alone in the woods at night. I'm not exactly sure what I'm afraid of...I don't really think someone/thing is going to jump out and eat me...I guess it's a fear of the unknown. Then I thought about how much I love caving. One of my goals in life is to spend the night in a cave...just to say I've done it. I like big caves and small caves, massive rooms and birth canal type tunnels. Generally I'm a happy, relaxed camper as soon as I enter a cave. I feel freedom in the security of the walls around me.
The flip side of this is the insecurity and frustration that the four walls of a classroom instill in me. I almost feel claustrophobic as a classroom teacher. My favorite teacher moments were reading stories or playing math fact games...outside and away from walls!
There has to be a balance...right?
This is the entrance to Bear Cave. The first cave I ever entered almost 15 years ago. My heart smiles just looking at it!
