Cari Bell is the mother of three young children and a high school teacher at Shawnigan Lake School on Vancouver Island.

My children remind me how accomplishing new things can magically transform the ordinary moment into
the extraordinary!

“I am part of all that I have met” says Ulysses to his son upon his return to Ithaca after a nineteen year absence. I reflect on the hero’s words, and realize that we don’t have to have lived life to epic proportions as Ulysses did to be influenced by those around us. I, a mere mortal, am equally sponge-like, soaking up the waters in which I float, be they fiery, icy, stagnant, churning, pure, or contaminated. I believe that who I am is the sum of many parts.

My husband has inspired my love of the great outdoors. When his sixth sense awakens as he enters the bush, I am in awe of his prowess on this natural stage. From navigating the sketchy trail to identifying tracks and scats, he’s a master. His influence has me stretching in directions I my otherwise not go. For example, he’s taught me how to read the river for fish habitat, how to select the right bait and lure for catching those fish, and once landed, how to clean and cook them. Never did I think I had an angler’s aptitude, nor fortitude. Being with my husband reminds me that I can push my limits and be forever changed by being close to nature.

Mothering three children has also had this effect, which goes to show that one’s influences can come from the young and innocent, not only the old and wise. My nine, five and three year olds have changed me abundantly and infinitely. From the powerful to the subtle, their influences challenge and affirm me as a parent and enrich me as a person. For example when Mathias nails a Mozart sonata, when Jamie correctly spells a multi-syllabic word, and when Allie unfurls from a somersault, I witness the power of learning. My children remind me how accomplishing new things can magically transform the ordinary moment into the extraordinary! My children’s successes fuel for my own.

Many other influences permeate through me by way of other family members, friends, colleagues, teachers, writers and even artists. Emily Carr, for example, has me looking up at the trees, instead of down at my feet when I hike. Her artistic lens inspires a new vantage point for me to consider as I view the world around me. I look up, and see through new eyes.

I see, also, that I am chameleon-like, sometimes taking on the colors that surround me. As I mature, I am learning to recognize that some of these colors are not as appealing as others. I’ve learned, for instance, to avoid personalities that delight in gossip, predict doom, and worship at the mall. These influences leave me feeling less of the person I’d like to be. I know that making a conscious effort to surround myself with uplifting, challenging and inspiring people makes me a better person—the sum of all these parts.

For This I Believe, I’m Cari Bell in Shawnigan Lake on Vancouver Island.