Dear Humans,

Some days after school all I want to do is sharpen pencils. Especially if it’s been a long day and I’m feeling a little tired. I’ll set my watch for 10 minutes, put on some music, and just sharpen away.

If I were smart, I wouldn’t spend my time doing this. I’d have a student do it or a volunteer, and more wisely use my time on more important matters.

But I’m not always smart. And being smart–using the front, top part of our brain–is just one way of being in the world. Because when I feel the resistance of the turning wheels as I hold the pencil still, as I catch the scent of fresh-cut cedar, and while I hear the grinding and whirring of the machine as it does battle against the Steely Dan on my little Bluetooth speaker, my mind wanders places my smart brain would never go.

Sincerely,

Mr. Curt