defying all things solid
rigid
hard
the downy, softness of feathers
rises above it all
gentle strength
defies gravity
effortless
soaring
a glide
catching wind
a whoosh
of Grace
Thanks to Donna Johnson’s blog “Images and Imaginings” for inspiration on today’s post.
With the press of the Return key I splinter the cell borders of a spreadsheet, Quit Excel, and move on to master another task. Something simple (sort of). Uncomplicated. Time-tested.
I joked with a friend not long ago about the complexities that come with the comforts of householding. Oh, how I could long for a simpler way. Chopping wood and carrying water sounds concrete, straightforward, no heady accounting or updated software necessary.
Maybe the joke was on me, as within days, the water tank at our house malfunctioned, leaving us with no running water for 48 hours. I found myself lugging 5 gallon buckets from the working tap next door to our kitchen sink. Be careful what you wish for, I reminded myself as I heated wash water on our stove top.
These days, the water’s flowing just fine, but I still find myself grappling with the continual details required to keep our lives organized. And our world is really pretty simple, relative to most. This weekend it was apparent that I could spend all of my time at my desk, computer computing, spreadsheets auto-summing, but what I really wanted was to take a break from my mind.
The Bohemian recently fell an Ironwood tree in order to make room for coconuts. He and I hauled a truck load of the logs to our house, but they needed to be split before they cured. The wood is known to be so hard that if you wait too long, they turn stone-like, too difficult to chop.
Looks like wishes really do come true. As there I was, Excel spreadsheets and paperwork far behind. On Sunday, it was just me and the axe, splitting wood and stacking.
This morning’s jog- I just skipped it.
As in, I circumvented routine. Thought outside the box. Changed it up. Did something new.
I literally skipped instead of ran.
Like many ingenious breakthroughs, this was born of necessity and purely spontaneous. The impetus was faulty shoulder straps that continually slipped off my shoulders as I began my morning jog (note to self: Kmart sports bras are not meant to last three years). This annoyance seemed unavoidable even though I tried to stay mindful of my posture. Jogging just seems to encourage forward, rounding shoulders.
Still wanting more than a casual walk, I intuitively segued into a skip. My torso was more upright, my face more lifted to the world. Shoulder straps stayed in place. Physically more aligned, I also felt a buoyancy in my step which stemmed to the corners of my mouth, perking up a subtle smile. I liked this skipping business.
In all the fun, I checked myself. Yes, I was a forty-year old woman skipping down a gravel dirt road. Should someone see me, would I look ridiculous? I reminded myself I should be too old to care. I skipped on.
As I bounded down the lane in morning sunlight, the adult in me wondered about possible medical research done on the physical effects of skipping versus jogging. Is one better than the other? Have studies been done?
Sshhh my inner Skipper said. Forget the stats. This is your field study. You’re sweating and smiling. Just skip away.
The sound of tires on loose stone moved behind me in the distance. A car was approaching. I wondered if I should slow my canter and play it cool. I could wind down to a casual walk or move into a socially unquestioned jog.
Instead, I reasoned that the unabashed, devil-may-care path could equate to ultra-cool, and I opted to continue skipping. The car did not slow and passed uneventfully. I skipped on, bolstered in my boldness.
With each lilting hop, I reflected on cities around the world, their jogging centers filled with humans pounding pavement. Each of those persons was desiring a little extra oxygen, some kind of lift. Imagine if they all began to skip! What a vision!
Would there be more eye contact amongst them? Would smiles trump “no pain, no gain.” Running tracks could turn playful. Serious adults may find themselves having more fun in their daily exercise regimen. This could be revolutionary! The positive implications could be endless. Why, the lightness of skipping could possibly bring peace on earth!
Well, it brought me a smile this morning.
For the Archives 