This picture has now been placed up there on my list of favorites right along with the monks on the roller coaster! Just having arrived back from a multifaceted trip to the San Francisco Bay area to see two of my 3 sons and celebrate the aliveness and beauty of my two grandchildren I am taken once again with the possibilities that are nested in each moment.
There are many moments that stand out for me on this trip and one of them reflects the C.S. Lewis quote above, as well as the nuns in total abandon saying YES to what they most certainly individually thought of, but may have been afraid to take action on alone. Have you ever had a moment when you have a thought to do something “out of the box’, look at someone and just know that they are thinking the same thing? What could have been a pretty BIG leap for you alone just turned into an adventure shared by another.
The fact is that you also get double the pleasure, fun, and joy in seizing the moment together…… creating a bond that may be momentary….or may last a lifetime.
Before immersing myself in family during this trip, the ocean called me loud and strong! Thus the day after I arrived was a day for breathing in salt air, walking at the waters edge, laying in the warm sand, simply being present to the sounds of the waves, and delighting in the spectacular day. I can still feel the smile on my face as I walked down the so familiar beach at Salmon Creek feeling the exhilarating cold water on my legs. Visual memories flooded in. There were so many times a Sunday group of women I had gathered together, called Babes In Wetsuits, would ride the top of waves screaming with joy while careening into shore.
Now you must understand that I was born and raised in San Diego and the beach to me was home. The salt water my bathtub. Keeping this in mind you will understand this little tale I will now tell you. While reluctantly walking back along the shore to my car parked high up on the cliff side parking lot I lingered just a little longer in the surf as my feet sunk into the wet sand. Just before me was a woman that caught my attention because of the huge smile she had on her face. This grown woman…it turns out Teresa from Salt Lake City, Utah…was gazing at the water running over her feet and the waves coming into shore with complete and utter joy.
I knew this feeling and was drawn to talk to her for a bit. Starting the conversation with, “isn’t this all so beautiful?”, I learned very quickly that she was entranced by this watery and sunlit world. Teresa spoke easily of her love for the ocean and the mountains and wished that she could have both, upon which I said that there are indeed places in the world where there are both in the same location.
Our love for this moment bonded us – complete strangers – into a connection that was wrought of falling totally into the moment together. I told her of my Babes in Wetsuits group and she laughed. In fact I said, ‘if I had my bathing suit on I would most likely go right into this water and dive in even though I would freeze my butt off!” She looked over at me with a brilliant smile on her face and said – “I probably would too!”
We mutually agreed that life is way too short to hold back from stepping through the open door when opportunities are presented. Although our legs were wet what both of us really wanted to do was dive right in. In a way we did by communicating that with each other. With a touch on a shoulder we went our separate ways enriched by the connection made in the salt water of the Pacific ocean.
If Teresa from Salt Lake City, Utah ever reads this post – please know that there is a playmate ready to dive right in. You are not alone!
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