At the playground, my almost three year old toddler girl found an apparatus she had never encountered.  It was a series of six poles, each with a small circular platform to step on, secured to the ground with a chain that gave it just enough sway to feel unstable.

On her first effort, she proceeded with caution.  She made it to the second platform, but an older boy was coming the other way very quickly.  He excitedly yelled, “get out of the way!”  I wondered what my daughter would do.  Without much thought, she lightly went back to the beginning.  The boy passed and went onto something else, and my daughter got back on and continued on her way.  It was easily resolved.  My friend remarked how we would have peace in the world if everyone could work together that well.

I wondered what area my daughter would move on to next.  She didn’t.  She turned around and got back on again and again and again.  She was going for mastery.  I wondered how much more might we accomplish when we focus on mastering what we already know instead of quickly jumping to the next new method.

When it was time to go, she cried.  She was having fun and was not ready to leave.  When we are doing what we love, we won’t want to stop.  We will be emotionally connected to what drives us to make a huge impact in the world.  If some days you need to be physically removed from the good you are doing, you know you are on track.

Are you as peaceful, practiced, and passionate as your kids?