How We See is What We See

Dear Readers;

To really see… we must be present. Charleston schools were out yesterday. Eva Cate had a play date so Mandy and I decided to take Jake to the seafood restaurant Vickery’s on Shem Creek for lunch and then hit the SC Aquarium. Fun day-especially since the predicted winds and rain held off.

As I sat watching the hundreds of fish swim by the giant aquarium I realized how they had to live in the present constantly-darting in and out of each other’s way. We humans, however, struggle to stay present-instead we hide in the past or worry about the future, as we mentally rehearse resentments and make our case for why we are right and someone else is wrong. What a waste of precious time.

At one tank I was drawn to the beauty of one fish-the colors made me think of Ukraine so I named him Zelensky. As I started calling his name each time he swam by another woman laughed and started calling him too… it turned into a chant with everyone excitedly watching him keep swimming back around… never leaving. The symbolism became more powerful as spectators started commenting on him out swimming this large fish. The ” Go Zelensky ” chant drew more and more spectators… a magical moment!

” The lamp of the body is the eye, if your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light. ”

So until tomorrow…” How we see is what we see… to see rightly we must stay present-without fear, without bias, and without judgment.

Kaitlyn found this Irish message she loved and I concur.

Today is my favorite day-Winnie the Pooh

Honey is making plates to sell-fundraiser for Ukraine! Love it!!!

About Becky Dingle

I was born a Tarheel but ended up a Sandlapper. My grandparents were cotton farmers in Laurens, South Carolina and it was in my grandmother’s house that my love of storytelling began beside an old Franklin stove. When I graduated from Laurens High School, I attended Erskine College (Due West of what?) and would later get my Masters Degree in Education/Social Studies from Charleston Southern. I am presently an adjunct professor/clinical supervisor at CSU and have also taught at the College of Charleston. For 28 years I taught Social Studies through storytelling. My philosophy matched Rudyard Kipling’s quote: “If history were taught in the form of stories, it would never be forgotten.” Today I still spread this message through workshops and presentations throughout the state. The secret of success in teaching social studies is always in the story. I want to keep learning and being surprised by life…it is the greatest teacher. Like Kermit said, “When you’re green you grow, when you’re ripe you rot.”

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