Embracing the ordinary (and staying alive to the extraordinary)

Trigger warning : I talk about an attempted suicide . This past week, one of the much loved teachers at the school our children attend, had a birthday. I was aware of it because of Facebook. (Yes, as a social networking tool, it is pretty awesome!) And I considered what I wanted to say to this man. These are some of the things I thought about: He partners with us to educate our children and has a hand in shaping their perceptions of the world around them. That is a very significant thing. And as a person, he is likeable and an inspiration as he seeks to continue growing and learning, has a sense of humour and engages the people around him. Our children look up to him as someone with important information to impart in a unique way that inspire them to continue the process of learning outside the classroom. He plays a significant role in the life of our school. After thinking about all of that, I came back to what I say to everyone in my circle that celebrates a birthda