When I was a little girl, the swing was my thing.
I would spend so much time on the huge swing on Salt Spring Island that my Dad rigged up in a very tall arbutus tree branch- and every park’s swing we would visit as children.
When I got on a swing when my girls were little, I expected the same wonderful feeling.
But it made me feel sick. I tried a few times over the years knowing how much fun they were having – after I had fulfilled the requests to push them…but that feeling made me seasick.
Recently when we were on Salt Spring walking along the beach I could see two people on this big swing in the distance. As I walked down the beach toward them – they left up the bank.
At 59, I thought I’ll just try sitting on it.
Because of the substantial branch high above, there was give when I sat down- not a bounce, but almost. Gentle.
Then maybe I would try a little swing- and before I knew it the instinct of pumping my legs to get higher kicked in and I was LOVING it!
It was a lovely feeling again to be held in space.
The same feeling I had when I sat back in the ocean this summer and just let the water hold me. The salt water has the feeling of more buoyancy than fresh water.
The feeling of letting go, being held, safe, familiar ( but in the-way-back-machine kind of way) and free.
Nothing is required of you.
Perhaps that’s what allows you to be in the moment.
Just be.
No expectations.
Being in the present moment so completely-
And after a while perhaps that is when it allows one to dream.
Later that evening as I was sitting in front of the fire in the small studio cottage we were staying with this lovely wood stove providing warmth in temperature and atmosphere, I was reflecting on the day.
On the sensation of the swing.
How grateful I was that I had tried it – how for some reason something inside my body had changed.
I wouldn’t have known that if I hadn’t tried it again out of curiosity.
Leading a creative life is often being open to possibilities, synchronicities and one’s own curiosity.
Leading a creative life means it is also so important to gather inspiration–for what exact purpose- one might not know (and that’s likely even better).
Perhaps walking along a beach and seeing a swing in a tree will result in a newsletter containing an invitation for you, the reader:
What if you try something -have a go and gather inspiration- be open to what the world offers when we are open and willing to notice and try (again).
I wish you peace on your path,
Lise-Lotte