She held tightly to his waist again on the way back. It was too loud for either of them to say anything, for which she was grateful, no decisions to be made, nothing to worry over, only the palm trees and tin roofs spinning out behind her, the wind whipping her hair across the face and the warm body close to hers; this moment then the next. Happiness began to burble in the base of her spine and rise, giddily, up her body. So this was what it was like: the present moment. She felt it like a revelation.
And wasn’t this what she’d been after – the lightness that came galloping through, grabbing you by the waist and hauling you along with it? How could you not surrender yourself to it, even if you knew you’d end up sitting bruised in the dirt? She supposed there must be another way to experience that breathless rush of being alive – something inward, perhaps? – but she didn’t know what it was or how to get there on her own.
Notes:
- Photo: Etsy by Glennis Siverson
- Prior “Lightly child, lightly” Posts? Connect here.
- Post Title & Inspiration: Aldous Huxley: “It’s dark because you are trying too hard. Lightly child, lightly. Learn to do everything lightly. Yes, feel lightly even though you’re feeling deeply. Just lightly let things happen and lightly cope with them.”
in my classroom, the kinders and i have started an approach, they painted watercolor signs saying, ‘go slow’ and put them all over the room. this covers everything in how to live life as far as how i see it. i love hearing them remind each other.
Love THIS. “Go Slow” post its / signs. Need to try this. Thanks for sharing Beth. So great.
In my ever-lengthening queue…
I’m 1/3 of the way through. So far, excellent.
Nothing like the rush of being fully present in a moment..nothing….
Yes…
Maybe we all come not knowing how to get there on our own so we wrap our arms tight around someone’s waist!
But, yes, I remember walking with someone at dusk almost 20 years ago, and it was like I’m feeling and seeing everything for the first time.
And I remember thinking to myself
“This, this awareness needs to stay with me”, and it did.
Maybe this is what it takes?
That’s what waists are for.
Smiling. Beautiful.