This week, Pointon asked his students to come up with a mantra that would help us all get through life and their young, smart minds did not disappoint.
George Pointon, a teacher in the UK, is always interested in what his 6-year-old students have to say about topics that are typically considered suitable for grown-ups. We previously reported how he asked his first graders what they would do as president of the world and how they'd come up with some surprisingly insightful answers. Similarly, over the past few months, Pointon has shared with Twitter his students' best jokes, what they consider to be the best thing that's ever happened to them, the one thing they believe one needs to be an adult, and whatever the youngsters wanted to get off their chest. Their deceptively simple yet insightful answers always hold some valuable observations that even we adults could learn a thing or two from.
This week, Pointon asked his students to come up with a mantra that would help us all get through life and their young, smart minds did not disappoint. Here's what they came up with:
Rory - "Don't stop running"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
The other day I grunted when picking up my keys from the table. If I didn't stop running, i'd die. Rory has gone for the Forrest Gump approach here. It seemed to work for him. Forrest that is. I've seen Rory run into multiple trees. Persistent tho.
JJ - "Only be friends with people who you want to be friends with"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
This gets forgotten about in adults. Sometimes we are friends with people out of convenience or history. Look around and ask yourself, "does this person positively impact my life?". JJ has his head screwed on.
Jack - "You might told off but sometimes you're not doing anything wrong"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
His anti-authority attitude is refreshing as it is scary. He's right tho. Fight for what you believe in and it's never wrong. Although Jack believes he can back flip over a lorry, so I don't know.
Ravi - "Some people don't have anything so be happy you have everything"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
We truly are in the presence of greatness. There are world leaders without this clarity. Step back and look at what we take for granted, you'll be amazed. Ravi elevates people around him. He's a special lad
Lola - "You can't swim in a sink but a bath is just a big sink"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
I believe she's talking about perspective. One person's baby step is another's giant leap. Lola moves at her pace and is proud of the people around her moving at theirs. Otherwise you'll lose a one horse race.
Emma - "The people who don't talk, still have something to say"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
Empty vessels makes the most noise. Emma is quiet and has grown in confidence since I've known her. She is an advocate for letting people be themselves. A true woman of her time. She'll make an excellent leader.
Belle - "Flowers live in the ground, we live in a house. Everyone lives somewhere"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
It's a huge, overwhelming concept to think every individual lives an equally complex and rich life as you. Knowing that everyone is coming from something make you see we're all the same. One team.
Mikey - "Mud hills are fun but also muddy"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
I'd never heard of the term "mud hill" but I assumed it's a hill, that is muddy. I was wrong. Its basically a pile of mud mashed up and used to throw at cars or people...So if you see a boy holding a mud ball with a devilish grin, run.
Zahra - "Some things are cool and some things aren't"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
There is no messing about with Zahra. A woman of precision. She wanted to add that if you find things cool, then it is. Which in itself is a pretty cool thing to say. If you enjoy something, don't let other bring you down.
Susanna - "Don't start a fire in a forrest"
— George Pointon (@GeorgePointon_) October 20, 2021
I take this as, understanding your situation and objectively being able to know what is benefitting you and what isn't. But Susanna confirmed that there is no subtext. Just don't start fires in forrests because it goes whoosh, okay.
Concluding his Twitter thread, Pointon stated that while all his students' responses were incredible in their own right, the quote of the week came from 5-year-old Maisie who said: "One of my legs is shorter than the other. So, I see the world a bit sideways." Speaking to Bored Panda about his popular Twitter series, Pointon said: "I love doing [the threads] and if I didn't, I would stop. The editing can often be a tedious process but overall I love doing them and it amazes me [that] people actually enjoy them too. It's a combination of things. Sometimes I ask my followers what they want. Sometimes I do them myself. It's more about how I'm feeling at the time. I like to engage the followers I have and include them in the process."