What do the child philosophers say? "I'm trying to find time to just breathe. I used to never do that but I do have time to slow down and let all my thoughts flow out." "Most people think they need things that are new in stores when they don't." "I think that the simpler your life, the happier your life." Ah.... Once again, time spent with children in a philosophizing circle helps me re-learn what I know to be true.
On a return visit to Marblehead, Massachusetts at the end of May, I met with children who engage in philosophical thinking on a regular basis and talked with them about a topic chosen by their teachers. I explored Nature with first graders, probed environmental Responsibility with kindergarteners, sat with fourth graders willing and needing to talk about Death, and finished my day with another class of fourth graders eager to tell me about the virtues of Simplicity. While the children in each class wowed the adults with their questions , insights, and openness, their dialogue and energy on the topic of Simplicity celebrated the connection between simple pleasures and good living in a vivid and unforgettable way.
What do we need to live well? These are some of the children's responses: freedom, peace, deep breathing, love, relaxation, a shoulder to cry on, all of life itself, comforting words, movement, laughter, music, memories, friendship, playtime, flowers that nobody picks, learning about something brand new.... When I asked if there were anything that all their choices shared, many hands went up to voice the same realization: nobody mentioned "stuff" unless it was necessary. Necessary things included food, clean water, a roof, and clothes for the season. (And a cell phone only in case of emergency!)
It was clear that the children already felt the roller coaster of modern busyness; they lamented stress, feeling rushed through every day, and not having a time all their own. Strikingly, all the adults present acknowledged their desire to slow down and live more full lives as well. Grownup faces wistfully registered the truths spoken by the students. The question for philosophers of all ages remains how we can remember our basic human need for the soul food provided by simple pleasures. How can put what we know into practice?
I asked the children this very question: How are you going to remember what we have learned together today? I had them think for a few minutes and then to write down their responses in as few words as possible; this limitation on words helps to get to the core of their thoughts. Listen to some of their hard-won words: "I will..." keep remembering that I only have one life, take a half hour every day to walk and listen, practice hard putting what's important first, give my mind a second chance whenever I forget, think deeply and let my understanding soak in, talk about it a lot, and trust myself to be smart...
Recently I received the results of this art assignment with which I left my merry group: Without using words or human beings, draw/paint the joy that comes from experiencing a simple pleasure. Eliminating words and people in their creation drives the young artists' thinking to a deeper level. Behold: a huge, divided tree trunk with room to nestle under its offshoots, a bedroom with books on shelves below an open window, an almost three-dimensional rendering of the planet with its continents and waters against a many-shaded black background, the ground receiving rain, brown dirt and blue sky in triangular shapes that fuse like pieces of a puzzle, a very small cone with a mountain of ice cream secured by a cherry on top....
Welcome back to the fourth grade. What do you need for good living? How can you remain clear about your priorities? What do you want for your one life?
