Impressions That Matter

Hey guys! 

As the weeks go by I begin to notice more of the small things that happen. Kayaking, sailing, fishing and all the dock activities have always been exciting to the kids, and seem to be what they look forward to the most. What I've noticed is that what they look forward to the most is us, the councillors. Whether it's fishing with them, eating lunch, playing games, or just having us listen to their stories, this is what they value most. You don't realize how much they watch you until you see it happening to someone else. Like today, Andy came to Piers Park for the first time this summer and immediately a girl named Grace was attached to him. She wanted him to sit next to her, play games with her, and more. I thought it was the cutest thing, and that's when I realize certain harbor explorers do the same to me. I never thought much of it because getting asked to sit next to someone is nothing of great importance until you think about the reason. They want you out of anyone else to sit next to them, or play games with them because they want to spend as much time with you as they possibly can. 

They admire you in their own way, like you're the coolest person they've ever met. In particular, their was a girl named Maddie who I bonded with. Everyday she's begged me to take her kayaking, asked me to be on her team for capture the flag, even though I'm terrible: do her hair while she waited for her dad to pick her up, etc. This all seemed normal to me, just an anxious kid ready to explore, until she gave me this.

She said she wants me to come back next year, in case her parents don't sign her up for next week so she can see me again, and that just warmed my heart. Then, right before she left, she wanted me to take a picture so I will remember her for sure.

It makes me feel like I'm doing something worthwhile, something with purpose.