Where Imaginations Smile…

is an integral part of the everyday life within the creative and vibrant walls of every Wee College Campus. The freedom of expression and support for imagination is acutely evident daily within the preschool class of the Wee College Church Center.

A young boy, clever, creative and with an imagination that soars, enters the doors of his Preschool class as a character or someone other than himself. What determines his character for the day? Perhaps, it’s the position of the moon, the story read the night before or even a celebration he wishes to share.

“Hi” he exclaims in a voice depictive of his character, “I’m Spiderman!”

“Hey”, he loudly boosts, “I’m Superman!”

“Grrrrrrr”, he growls “I’m Dragon”

Yet one day, when the sun was struggling to break free from the threat of another bleak cloudy day, a young boy with the same height as Spider man, same weight as  Superman and the same sparklingly eyes of an another Superhero proudly exclaims  “Hi, I’m Malcolm”.

With great surprise the children turn in Malcolm’s direction and eagerly respond, “Hi Malcolm”.  One of his teachers greets him with a high five and asks him why he decided to come as Malcolm today, to which he sighs and simply replies “Every once in a while you just have to be yourself.”

My “aha” moments usually have come from the actions and words of a child and this moment was indeed an “aha” moment.  Every once in a while you just have to be yourself! No masks, a real and authentic you.  Alan Watts said, “Waking up to who you are requires letting go of who you imagine yourself to be.”

Our true self is who we really are when we let go of all of the stories, labels, and judgments that we have placed upon ourselves. It is who we are naturally without the masks and pretentiousness.  It is letting go of how others perceive or judge us to be.  It is your story, your life and your being and its important and freeing when you are just you.

I love Malcolm’s story because he reminds us that it is less work to be ourselves, less stress, less dress up and less masking our truth.

I speak from experience when I say at one time I needed a mask to hide fear and/or to fit in and that mask became thicker and heavier to wear.  It was when I put away that mask did I realize the joy of living with one’s authentic self.

When you’re asked, “Who are you?” what is your answer? “I’m a mom.” “I’m a teacher.” “I live in Moncton.” Often the answer is not who you are, but what you do, what your social status is, or even how you see your function in life. You can’t answer who you are unless you recognize and explore that there is another level of existence that is the genuine substance of who you are. Even Dr. Phil preaches the importance and value of living a life that involves an authentic you.

 “Sometimes you just have to be yourself”, smart words and advice from a four year old child.