I deliver keynotes. I appear on podcasts. I facilitate leadership workshops. I’ve spent years standing in front of audiences, sometimes hundreds of people.
And yet, one of the most nerve-racking experiences I’ve had recently?
Standing in front of 25 five-year-olds!
This week, I had the privilege of reading one of my children’s stories, The Little Voice That Finally Spoke, to my granddaughter Amaal’s kindergarten class in Portugal.
The story is part of The Nine Rooms, a collection inspired by the Enneagram that explores the different ways children experience the world, navigate challenges, and discover their strengths.
I was nervous. Really nervous. Would the story resonate? Would the children stay engaged? Would the activities work? And how would we navigate a session unfolding in both English and Portuguese?
What happened exceeded anything I could have imagined. The story came alive. The children were completely engaged. And the activities? Pure magic.
We explored kindness through movement. The children stood tall when they heard an act of kindness, crouched down when something was unkind, and wiggled when they weren’t quite sure.
And then came our kindness spaceship. Captain Oliver’s spaceship had run out of fuel. But not ordinary fuel. It needed kindness to fly!
Every child was invited to share an act of kindness to help fuel the spaceship.
All 25 participated.
And their responses were priceless.
“My dad shows kindness by making dinner.”
“My mom shows kindness by kissing me.”
“My teachers show kindness by hugging me.”
“I show kindness by saying sorry.”
“I can give water to someone who is hurt.”
Such simple expressions of kindness. And such profound reminders that children notice far more than we sometimes realize.
One of the most beautiful parts of the experience was watching the teachers in action. As we moved between English and Portuguese, they didn’t simply translate. They complemented, enhanced, and reinforced the learning, turning every activity into an opportunity for connection and understanding. It was a wonderful reminder of the extraordinary difference great teachers make.
And then came the moment that mattered most. After the session, I asked Amaal what she thought. “Good,” she said. Just one word. Delivered with the seriousness of someone whose standards are exceptionally high. And then she gave me an unsolicited hug. Later, she came home and announced that she’d had the best day at school. I’ve received some lovely feedback over the years. But I think this one may be hard to beat. I’m still smiling.
And perhaps my biggest takeaway is this: We sometimes underestimate how much children can teach us when we give them the space to participate, express themselves, and be heard.
Twenty-five little voices. Twenty-five contributions to kindness. And one very happy Nima.
