We have a little saying at school. (So really, like three of us have a saying at school but whatever, it's my story). When someone is being bossy and kind of sticking their nose into every single rule that has been written we call them "Captain of the World". It also involves sticking one hand on your hip and the other one out in the stiff-arm-fist-clenched Superman pose sort of way.
For instance, if there are a bunch of kids in the hall at lunch, when they should be outside one of us will get up, hold the pose and then speed off to right the wrongs. Or maybe kids are being late to class, so Miss Captain of the World may come up with a solution that ultimately fixes the problem, but also gives her twice the amount of work. Good idea? Possibly. Except that the kids weren't arriving late to her class-she just listened to everyone else complaining about it. When Captain of the World sees a problem, she's always there to fix it. Even (and maybe especially) when it's not her problem to begin with.
More and more, Captain of the World is me. But this Captain of World does not just clamor for her ideas. She is willing to put in the work to see it through. Even when her husband tells her she's a fool. That she should let her colleagues deal with the school problems instead of always offering to help. And yet, each day, she gathers her sword and shield ready to fight injustice. Or at the very least, try to teach kids how to show respect, be responsible and be honest.
The sad lesson I learned today is that not everyone needs a Captain of the World.
Ryan guffawed when I told him my epiphany. I'm thinking that I'm going to hang up the sword and shield in favor of a raised eyebrow and a "don't know what to tell you" shoulder shrug. I'd like to say that the rest of the world will miss me. But they probably won't. Truth be told (and I am saying this with a wry chuckle) they probably won't even notice.
Because in the end, there is a slight possibility that the Captain of the World, needed them a lot more than they needed her.
PS Don't worry-I will still search the skies over Gotham for the Bat signal....just in case...
1 comment:
I like to think of my self as a type of wonder woman, without the little outfit. Sometimes I wish I had her lasso of justice (or whatever it was) to whip everyone into shape.
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