For the past few summers, I have been lucky enough to be a sailing instructor for little kids. As cliche as it sounds, I truly believe the kids teach me more than I could ever teach them. Here is the top five most important lessons I’ve learned from my sailing kids.
1. Be Brave. Step outside your comfort zone.
Not only are my students brave for getting out in a boat and sailing by themselves most of the time, but for so many other reasons as well. Even when they get an answer wrong or have a tough day on the water, my kids always come back with a smiling face and the bravery to get right back to it. As we grow older, we often choose to stay in our comfort zone and only continue to do the things we excel at. These kids remind how important it is to be brave and step outside our comfort zone to learn something brand new.
2. Be open to new friends.
Most of my students do not know anyone when they show up to the first day of class. By the end of the first day, they already have five new friends and are rushing to introduce them to their parents. By the end of the week, they have an entire new group of friends who they have bonded with over their experiences. Instead of being so resistant to meeting new people and sticking to ourselves, these kids remind me to not be so afraid of reaching out to new people.
3. Joy can be found in even the littlest moments.
It doesn’t take much for the kids to get excited. One correct setup of their boat or a successful day around the course brings a smile from ear to ear to their face. They get excited about how windy it is outside or the fact that the sun is shining. These are things I take for granted almost everyday. They bring so much joy to everyone around them and inspire me to find joy in the littlest of things too.
4. Be more forgiving.
Sailing requires teamwork and with teamwork comes forgiveness. It can be so easy to get upset because someone did something wrong that negatively impacted you. We may even be tempted to hold a grudge about it or rush to vent about it with one of our friends. My students never stay mad at each other for more than three minutes. Even if someone does something wrong on their boat that ends up causing an issue, they always forgive each other and move on. They don’t hold grudges and they don’t carry it with them on to the next day. They forgive quickly and move on.
5. Don’t take anything too seriously.
Kids are hilarious. They say and do the funniest things. They laugh and smile, and joke at every chance they can. Sure it can be frustrating when you are trying to teach them but it is also a constant reminder to stress a lot less. My students always remind me that laughter is the best medicine.
If you ever have the chance to work with little kids, I would highly suggest it no matter in what capacity. Whether you are a babysitter, a counselor or a teacher, I guarantee you will learn a lot from your kids and have a few laughs doing it.
