We planted a couple dozen vegetable plants today – tomato, squash, cucumber, herbs, kale, chard, lettuce.
Planting vegetable plants is, in the grand scheme, a necessary act – for human survival. But in the small scheme, for instance in my backyard, planting vegetables is an aspirational act.
When I plant vegetables, I aspire to be a good caretaker of them through their lifespan.
When I plant vegetables, I aspire to give them what they need to produce all they are capable of.
When I plant vegetables, I aspire to bring more goodness into the world and into my own life.
When I plant vegetables, I aspire to enjoy the fruits of our labors on some distant day.
Now, go back to those four aspirations and replace “plant vegetables” with “teach students.”
Teaching is the most aspirational act of all.