Irum Khan
When Yana, a six-year-old, stepped out the door and sensed something different in Edmonton’s weather, she didn’t pause before exclaiming, “This is perfect weather to fly a kite!”
Her mother—just as adventurous as a six-year-old could be—brought home a kite kit decorated with Hello Kitty, much to Yana’s surprise when she returned from school. Unable to contain their enthusiasm, the two headed to the park, delighted to find an elevated spot perfect for building the momentum needed to launch the kite.
A few struggling attempts later, the kite finally soared—much to the six-year-old’s delight—as walkers stopped regularly to applaud.
The next day, however, the breeze had vanished. The glorious sun was shining bright. The weather seemed perfect for everyone else—but for Yana and her mum, it was a hurdle to overcome.
Off to the court they went, kite in hand and ready to touch the sky. As Mum held the string and Yana pierced the kite into the sky—duh—the kite came swirling down.
“Let’s try again,” Mum encouraged.
Duh! The kite refused to take off.
“We’ll keep trying. Maybe if you run around, the kite will build momentum.”
The little girl followed the instructions with diligence, forcing the kite a foot into the sky.
“That’s it?” she asked, as the kite spiraled down to the ground.
Mum, channeling her adult reasoning, quipped, “The weather isn’t perfect. Let’s wait for a windy day.”
Her words instantly drew dismay to Yana’s face. “No, Mum! I’m not giving up. I’m going to run and run until the kite flies.”
Mum stood there, unsure how to respond—but secretly admiring her little girl’s big determination. As Yana ran, she called out, “Mum, you run too! So the kite can fly.”
Mum, burdened by adult experiences, gave a long, hesitant “O…kay,” knowing how unpredictable the weather could be.
Yana stopped and raised her voice, “Mum, don’t say O…kay. Say OK!”
Mum smiled and followed. But Yana wasn’t done.
“Mum, not like that!” she shouted, punching her fist into the sky. “Say it like this: ‘OK, we can do it!’” —hitting her turbo mode on.
“Her contagious energy sparked something in her mum, who—filled with amusement, delight, and admiration for her daughter—punched the air with a now-energetic, ‘We can do it!’ The two began running toward their goal.”
“I’m never ever giving up!” Yana declared from the other end. “Keep running, Mum!”
Her mother followed the little teacher with growing enthusiasm. As the kite rose a few inches and then fell again, Yana cried out, “Mum, I’m just loving the process! I don’t care if the kite flies or not—I’m loving this. Keep running, Mum! I love how we try.”
Mum’s heart skipped a beat. Her past failures suddenly seemed trivial. The realization to live in the process became clear. As her six-year-old gave her a life lesson, the smile lost to disappointment began to return—bringing with it an undiluted joy.
The joy of being at it.
The joy of trying once more.
