By Tracy Poff, TIWP Women’s Program

What is school?

Is school the brick building with desks and chairs?  It is the place where you put your tushie in a seat and listen to someone else talk?

Words don’t teach.

Your life on Earth is the real school.  What did you learn when you ate so much that you could hardly move?  What did you learn when you carried the hammer with your pinky and it fell on your foot?  What did you learn when you ran into the ocean?  What did you learn when you loaned Sam $100 and he never repaid you?

What did you learn when you chased the butterfly in your backyard?  What did you learn when you decided to be gentle with yourself for oversleeping?  What did you learn about yourself when you forgave your brother for breaking your favorite pen?

School is in session.  School is now.  School is your life.

What would you like to learn in school?  Would you like to finish school wiser than when you began?  Would you like to experience growth?

Your life is school.  Every conversation, reflection and situation offers you growth.  This growth stems from your capacity—or gift—to choose.

How will you choose?  What will you learn?  It’s your school.  It’s your life.  It’s your choice.