When I take a walk, I walk. I don’t stop every few minutes to investigate. I don’t pick up rocks in the parking lot. I don’t examine every stick. I don’t discard one acorn for another, then discard them both for a pine cone. If I notice a rock, it is only to kick it. I generally keep moving while I look at trees (and maybe flowers if they are really showing off). If I am looking down while I am walking, it’s probably (let’s be honest) because I am texting.
But suddenly I am the parent of a toddler, one who has lots of energy to burn. When the weather cooperates as it has so kindly this week, we walk to the school where Daddy works and we run in our backyard and we explore the path behind our house. We hug trees, we hike with big sticks (I know he is too little to hike, but, oh, it looks like he is hiking and it is too funny for words), and we get dirty.
It has been a long time since I paid attention to sticks and acorns and rocks. I had forgotten what fun it can be just to be outside. This week, what is saving my life is seeing the world through the eyes of a toddler. What a wild and wondrous world it is. There are so many things to see.
What is saving your life this week?
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4 Comments
I’m not the parent of a toddler just yet, but actually, the outdoors saved my life this week, too. It had been cloudy here for what feels like weeks — not a speck of sunshine! — when suddenly Thursday afternoon the clouds parted, and spring came to Tallahassee. It took every bit of self control I possessed not to race home at breakneck speed. Instead, I took my time driving home, then raced inside to change into shorts and a t-shirt. And I RAN. I never run. But I put in some headphones, and I ran. And you know what? It was glorious. The sun was shining, a breeze was blowing, and in between songs, I could hear geese flying around the lake. I actually had a moment where I thanked God for earth. Just earth. Just this beautiful planet He decided to put me on. I — sadly — can’t tell you the last time I did that. What a shame. I hope nature continues to save my life this month. I rather like it.
I want to see a picture of him hiking!
the only thing saving me right now is the hope that doing what i am doing will get me the one thing i want more then what my brain is telling me i want. sigh. we have been trying for another child for a year and i have been told to gain 10 pounds. i was told in august to gain 5, but lost 5 more. it took forever for me to get the baby weight off and to a point i liked myself, so i was in denial i had to gain some back. as much as i hate to admit it though, i am not at a healthy weight and NEED to gain the weight even if i didn’t want another baby. just not easy to see the numbers on the scale going up when i worked so hard and so long to see them go down. it is a constant struggle within my mind, but i am trying to beat down the voice that tells me to lose what i gained. it is a season in my life…if i want that baby, i have to let go for now. it is just so hard.
I still get excited about seeing a train because when I had a toddler (many years ago) seeing a train go by was so exciting! It is a gift to be given the eyes of a child through which to see the world.