I spent the day with my kids today.
This isn’t an unusual thing; I spend every day with my kids. But today was one of those days that I was, for whatever reason, especially tuned in to them. I wasn’t just managing them today or guiding them or supervising them. I was really experiencing them.
I need to do that more often. They certainly deserve that from me…but it’s also very, very good for me. Just because somebody’s little, after all, doesn’t mean they don’t have things to teach you.
My kids teach me things like: Stop and smell the flowers.
Literally.
Always.
Never pass up a flower.
And don’t just smell them. Study them. Admire them. Revel, for just a few seconds, in the amazing beauty of them. There’s so much beauty, everywhere. What a shame it is to be too busy to notice it. (Mae never makes that mistake!):
And beauty isn’t just for flowers. If you’re dissatisfied with your present situation, take a look around. You might have to go to the effort of climbing up on a precarious barrel to get a decent view (and risk freaking out your mom for a second). But you might just find proof that something better is out there. And that it’s not that far away.
And another important lesson: When you want to try something…do it! Just go for it. Don’t worry about looking silly, or about failing. Don’t overthink. Just give it a shot. You see a tree limb that’s way over your head? Jump for it! And jump and jump and jump again. Even if it becomes perfectly clear you aren’t going to get there, you just might find that the attempt is pretty darn fun in and of itself.
Another blogger shared a very magical story with me recently. I needed that story! I very much needed it. It’s such a gift when somebody or something renews your faith in that way. There are so many people, SO MANY, who are so very ready to tell you differently – to tell you that you’re dreaming too big, or you want too much. There are so many people ready to judge you for not toeing a particular line.
I want to believe that the world is a beautiful place and that magical things really are possible – that potential and possibilities are everywhere. I want to look at those ridiculously high tree limbs and see super-fun challenges. I want to take things that are mundane and make something interesting out of them.
My kids never even consider the possibility of NOT doing these things.
I think in some very real ways, they’re much wiser than I am.