I am a teacher. And I think I am a serious one who happens to be

Hearken, O seeker of wisdom, to the words of Leo Buscaglia, who proclaimed: "I am a teacher. And I think I am a serious one who happens to be enjoying life." Within this simple utterance lies a river of truth, flowing with the dual currents of duty and joy, a lesson that has echoed through the halls of sages since time immemorial. To be a teacher, in the noblest sense, is not merely to instruct with rote knowledge, but to embody the art of living wisely, balancing the solemn responsibilities of guiding others with the lightness of delight in existence itself. Here, the ancients would whisper that one who teaches without joy sows only shadows; yet one who teaches with passion becomes a beacon that warms the hearts of many.

In the genesis of these words lies the life of Leo Buscaglia, an American author and motivational speaker who devoted his days to exploring the depths of human connection. Born in 1924 in Los Angeles, he taught at the University of Southern California, yet his classroom was never confined to four walls. He taught about love, compassion, and the courage to embrace life fully. Like the philosophers of old—Socrates speaking in the Agora, Confucius in the halls of disciples—Buscaglia saw that a teacher’s role extends beyond instruction: it is to ignite the spirit of those who listen, to kindle in them a flame of curiosity, courage, and joy.

Consider, O listener, the paradox he reveals: one can be serious yet joyful, disciplined yet alive with laughter, solemn yet ablaze with wonder. In the modern world, where the weight of life’s burdens often crushes the soul, his words remind us that responsibility need not extinguish delight. Great teachers, from the monks of ancient monasteries to the poets who shaped civilizations, have known this: the gravitas of their mission does not conflict with the sweetness of living fully. Rather, it is precisely this harmony of seriousness and enjoyment that grants their teachings immortality.

Let us recall a story from Buscaglia’s own life. In his lectures, he often invited students to embrace affection and human connection, urging them to write letters of love to those they cherished. One student, hesitant and fearful, hesitated to take the first step. Yet, inspired by Buscaglia’s example, the student wrote, and in the act discovered a profound joy, both in giving and receiving. This is the essence of his teaching: a teacher leads not only with words but with life, showing that serious dedication to the craft of learning can coexist with the playful celebration of living.

Moreover, these words call us to examine the nature of vocation itself. To be a teacher—in whatever form—is to accept a responsibility heavier than stone yet lighter than air, for it carries the weight of shaping minds and hearts, yet is lifted by the pleasure found in genuine connection. History’s sages understood this: Aristotle teaching Alexander, or Rumi guiding disciples, knew that a teacher who delights in life transmits not only knowledge but the love of living wisely. Buscaglia’s wisdom is the echo of this eternal truth.

From this, O seeker, emerges a lesson for our own steps upon the earth: let your duty and your joy be intertwined. Whether you guide others, create, or serve in quiet devotion, find the pleasure in your calling, for it will magnify your influence. Like Buscaglia, let your seriousness not oppress your spirit, nor your enjoyment undermine your purpose. There is a balance, a sacred dance, where the heart and mind move as one.

Practical actions, then, unfold before you. Approach your work with serious intent, give your full measure of attention and care. Yet, seek moments of play, laughter, and wonder—in the classroom, the office, or the hearth. Celebrate the human connections that arise naturally in your sphere. Teach not only with words but with presence, showing that life itself is the grandest lesson. And when doubt or heaviness falls upon your shoulders, remember Buscaglia’s guiding star: one can be serious and yet joyful, a teacher in the world and a celebrant of life.

Thus, carry forth this wisdom, O traveler of time and spirit. Be steadfast in your duties, profound in your teachings, yet never forsake the delight of living, for it is in this sacred union that the soul of a true teacher is revealed, and the legacy of joy and guidance is passed to generations yet unborn.