On bringing 'Showentelle' back...

Sunny Dots by me

This morning I was reflecting on the past 13 days of sharing a creative gift a day, and it has been so much fun, that I was reminded of one of my most favorite activities at school growing up. The great, ‘Show'n'Tell.’ When I was a kid I thought it was a big event, with a very special name, perhaps Irish in origin, like Sean or Shannon. To me it was Showentelle. I associated it with something very magical, which made the Irish association all the more apt, as by then the little mischievous green men who searched for pots of gold at the end of the rainbow, and played tricks on unsuspecting humans were part of my school experience too.

I remember how everyone gathered in a circle, and raised their hands high for a turn. How everyone relaxed and became intent and curious about what was being shared. I remember how we wanted it to go on forever, and how it felt incomplete when it ended, as inevitably there just wasn’t enough time for everyone to share as much as they wished. I remember that it was energizing and magnetic, and how there was much interest and joyful resonance--often a kid or two shouting out, "me too!"

I have had an opportunity to share creations among friends the past several years in various groups, through writing, blogging and visual arts, and I am always so incredibly excited about what is shared between us. The less I am in a place about weighing its worth, or speculating whether it is the next greatest phenomenon, and the closer I am to my little self sitting on a Showentelle rug, captivated in that holy sharing space, the more I marvel at how my friends’ creations resemble them so beautifully, like some owners resemble their dogs, and it is just so cool to witness and receive. I am richer for it. I adore seeing what could only be grown, tended and developed by the unique creator in them. 

Yes, I would like to bring back that wonderfully sweet and joyful innocent sharing, joyful hand-raising, just for fun, just because it is interesting to behold what others care about, and to share our hearts.

I find this a guiding principle in my piano teaching, as realistically most of my students won't go on to be concert pianists, but hopefully they will have a whole lot of fun sharing something musical they love. To bring back this sweet partaking of one another just might be the next best hipster worthy come-back. Showentelle comeback--pass it

on.