About the power of words, of actions, which fill our hearts in childhood, but as we grow up, they are often overwhelmed by the tide of life, which leaves traces of materialism, grasping and the need for social proof. Until simplicitythat used to be important and beautiful, is still only a trace.
Let me go back to the beginning of the story ...
I'm a sports teacher. Until recently, I worked in this wonderful profession at the Maribor Hearing and Speech Centre. In a primary school where childlike authenticity bubbles between the walls, and warm-heartedness colours every dark shade of a bad day. A few months ago, my path turned and I waved goodbye to "my" golden children. But when you do something with love, you leave pieces of your heart between the walls and the people, and carefully store others in your own. They remind you of the people who have written special stories and made an important mark in your life. Pearls that you can't just forget, but need to bask in their glow for a few moments every now and then.
They knew I was coming. Someone told them. I ran to the teachers to say a quick hello, but I could already hear giggling voices coming from the classrooms.
"But have you been to 3b before? Come on, go, you know how they expect you. They had a whole week to prepare ..." I didn't understand anything. Preparations?
So much shouting, jumping out of chairs, hugs, kisses... Non-verbal confirmation that you did something right in the past. And reminders of how much your heart misses them.
"We did something for you." I was expecting a drawing or some origami... But then a little girl, Ariana, brought a bag. She pulled out a folded piece of paper and put it on her heart. I looked closer and read the inscription Press the button. When she "pressed" on her heart, she turned it over and there were instructions on how to proceed: Hello, teacher Nuša. You have to push the buttons and something will happen.
The next leaf she pulled out was folded like a window with shutters. On it was written Open me. I opened the tabs: Teacher Nuša, I have something for you. Under the sign was another hidden tab, which surprised me when I opened it with at least 50 colourful hearts! The button-pressing was never-ending. Colouring and decorating the slips with the inscriptions I love you ... I miss you ... All the way to the carefully handmade, decorated envelopes with pictures of my favourite Minions cartoon characters. And a giant drawing of Kevin (one of the cute yellow creatures)! And stickers and tiny drawings ...
It took me more than 15 minutes to open and inspect everything that was given to me. My mind could not keep up with what was happening. That these children can draw, cut and make things like this? How do they get ideas? From the heart, of course! But ... Wait ... They went to make all this for me? Even though I knew I was doing a good job and I gave them what I could, it's moments like that that make you burn and make you wish you could have done better, that you could have given even more.
"Wait, teacher, it's not over yet, I still have some more!" No, the story is far from over. Now we come to the point.
Ariana and Jure started digging in their pockets, their impatience and anticipation for the grand final radiating through the classroom.
"Look, I've still got this for you! It's my favourite pencil!" says Ariana.
"And this is my favourite eraser. For you!" adds Jure.
Their eyes were glowing. I had to catch my breath and swallow a huge gulp to hold back the tears. Not because I was so desperate for an eraser and a pencil. Because I was given THAT eraser and THAT pencil. Coated and probably full of stories. The two objects that mean the most to the two little suns! And now they have decided to give it away.
How much you must feel the desire to make someone else happy, not just to share, but to give something that holds a special place in your heart. Just to show how much you love, respect and appreciate them. Don't be sad because you won't have it anymore. You are even happier! Because your heart is filled with the smile on the recipient's face, with his happiness!
How difficult it is for great people to understand this. Or maybe we've just forgotten... We scramble our brains looking for the most expensive, thinking that the price reflects the size and value of the gift. But happiness is not in the objects. It's not even in words. Happiness is in actions. And it's always mutual! Sometimes we don't even think we have done anything special, because we have just followed our inner impulses, our values, our hearts. We realise the power of action when fortune turns to us. It always does. In a way that only those who are able to give understand. To tell, to show, to do.
I didn't have the heart to take such precious things from them, but I would probably have disappointed them very much if I hadn't.
"I will only write and erase very specific words and sentences with them. I promise," I whispered to them.
A long embrace followed ... Which still lingers in my heart today.
Nuša Maver, 1. 4. 2025
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