Some call it short. Some call it vertically challenged. Some call it miniature. Whatever you call it… it is comparative. Comparing it to the person standing next to it. Comparing it to a natural cave. Comparing it to the “normal”. (Sorry English teachers for all of the “it” words.) 

We walk outside on a sunny day and are instantly beaten with the rays of the sun… most squint, and some sneeze… We feel the warmth. We feel the goosebumps. We feel the fresh air. We are overcome with all of “the feels”. 

But, did you ever think about the black figure following you? Yeah… the thing that you learned about in grade school. Shadows. You might be wondering, “What about the shadow?”

The Characteristics of a Shadow

• Shadows like to hide. I remember being a kiddo and chasing my shadow. I, now, am fortunate enough to watch my students do the same. To this day, every day, I will have a kiddo in the hallway tap me on one shoulder, but be standing on the other side of me. It’s a game. (Oh, if you are wondering… I always fall for it.) They hide from us. 

• Shadows like to play Follow the Leader. As a kid, if you are feeling alone… just talk to your shadow. They are like your best friend. I know they are not 3-dimensional, but it is a way to get your words or feelings out; like an imaginary person. We will always get the last word in. We will always be the leader. We will always have a tag-a-long. They follow us. 

• Shadows like to be a reflection. I still love making hand puppets. It is a way for me to be creative (that doesn’t cost me anything). Turn on disco lights in a classroom and see what happens without looking at the students. Shadows prancing around. Students dancing like nobody’s watching.  They move like us.

The Causes of the Shadow

Natural Light

One of my favorite activities to do with the kiddos is have them stand outside in the morning and have a partner trace their shadow. I hear little comments like, “Why does my shadow look so big and tall?” (Then, pray it doesn’t rain.) On day two, I take them outside in the afternoon and have them stand in the same spot. Then you hear giggles when they notice that their shadow has moved…They are always amazed at the phenomena, the earth is rotating at all times! The sun reminds us we are a puzzle piece in a masterpiece. 

Artificial Light

Of course I have a favorite activity for this one too. Kids love MiniBrands! They love them because of the surprise (they are wrapped like blind bags) and their size!  I wonder what happens if we put one of them on a shelf by a wall then use a flashlight to shine light. Where is the shadow? How is it different from natural light? If you are thinking the shadow is larger than the original… you are correct! Why, though? The flashlight reminds us that even though we may be small, we can be mighty.

To the point… 

Shadows are not what they seem, figuratively speaking. 

If you are a teacher or parent, you know students or your own children get overlooked in the classroom, on the field, in the home, etc. If you are a person, you have been overlooked. People have an inherent behavior to “focus on the shadow” you create or have created. 

He [Carl Jung] said we never see others. Instead we see only aspects of ourselves that fall over them. Shadows. Projections. Our associations.

What if we do not want to be a shadow? What if we don’t want to be hidden? What if we do not want to be compared to someone or something else? What if we just want all of our features seen?

When I took the picture to the left, I wanted to see the details of the pine cones. However, they were placed in a shadow from larger items above them.

You see… with natural and artificial light, we, as educators, as administrators, as Central Office employees, as board members, can look at it with two points of view.

1. If we pay attention to the shadow, the shadow will overcome us.
   1. It distorts who we really are, who we want to be, and where we want to go. It is when we are engulfed in the shadow, we feel like a dark colored blob.  Or if I flipped it to second-person, you would only see distortions of others.

2. If we face the light, the shadow created, will not be a distraction.
   1. If we allow the light to focus on our talent. We will be appreciated for who we really are. We will be wanted because of who we want to be. We will be challenged to be the best version of ourselves because of where we want to go. Or if I flipped it to second-person, you would only see a leader… who wants more. Who wants to meet their potential. Who has so much more to give others.

Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow. 

-Helen Keller