Day 127: The Nightingale

Common nightingale ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_nightingale)

I will be keeping this post very short. I am sleepy. It is only 9:00 p.m. Sunday night. But I am attempting to reprogram myself to go to sleep earlier and rise earlier. Yup. Still working on it!

I had a really wonderful, peacefully balanced day.

My last student of the day just began high school. She was feeling very overwhelmed and in tears when I arrived. We just sat and talked for awhile. Then I told her that she is amazing and I've seen her accomplish so much in her lessons. She sniffled and said thank you. We started her lesson. I let her take the lead with what she wanted to play. She is quite musical. I got goose bumps. I always do when I hear someone shift from just merely playing the notes, to that magical, intangible "making music".

She likes to sing while she plays. The last piece she played for me today was a lovely arrangement of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow". And the lyrics hit me like never before. And her sweet teenage, angst-filled voice melted my heart as all the sadness and stress seemed to evaporate.

And I also had this feeling that this is one of those moments I will always remember. How we worked together, healing her through music and kindness.

She gave me a hug before I left.

This is why I teach.

And when I am down, or too focused on myself, I must remember this.

And I find it ironic, but cannot believe it is a coincidence that my plan for the evening is to lie down with a book my daughter recommended. "The Nightingale" by Kristin Hannah. Another stellar recommendation! It is set in World War II Paris. The characters are so well developed, I feel like I step into the story every time I open the book.

On a whim, I googled "nightingale". The goose bumps got bigger as I read:

'The common nightingale or simply nightingale (Luscinia megarhynchos), also known as rufous nightingale, is a small passerine bird best known for its powerful and beautiful song,"

( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_nightingale)

Of course I thought of my student today.

On that note, goodnight!

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