I had decided before we left for this vacation that I was going to attempt to say yes more during these two weeks. Not yes to buying things, necessarily. Because how many souvenir stand trinkets does one really need? (hint - the answer rhymes with pun and starts with an 'n') Yes, instead, to increasingly rare requests for me or my time. Not "when I finish this row" (I left my knitting needles at home! Those of you who know me IRL know this is like saying "I left my index finger at home") Not "when I finish this chapter" (that one's been tougher, 'cause I sure as shootin' didn't leave my books at home!"), just, "yes".
Today we were all feeling like we needed a break from the rather harsh rays on the beach, so my sister and I decided to take the girls to the pool.
What a great decision that turned out to be.
It was a beautiful pool - large, immaculately maintained, beautifully landscaped.
We had it all to ourselves.
Seriously, ya'll. Traveling off-season rocks so hard.
And I had a lot of opportunities to say yes.
My girls are not too old, apparently, to play "look what I can do".
And I really looked.
I watched their feet flail around while they were under the water and knew that in their minds they were performing feats as graceful as any Olympic diver. I told them they were wonderful. I meant it.
"Did you see me Mom?"
"Yes!"
"Do you want to play a game?"
"Yes!"
My sister and I both played the pool games they made up. My sister - who NEVER gets her hair wet (her mother's daughter) was splashing and allowing herself to be splashed. She indulged in a little "look what I can do", too.
Awesome.
I found myself diving low just to do it - not to swim a lap, not to get to the side, just because it feels really good. And it DOES make you feel graceful! And LIGHT! For a big girl like me, that is an almost inexplicably wonderful feeling. I FLOATED! Stiff as a board, light as a feather...
When I got out, my fingers were wrinkled.
When's the last time you JUST PLAYED in the pool until your fingers were wrinkled?
"Can I pick you up again, Mom?"
"Yes!"
"Holding you like this is fun."
"Yes!"
Oh, hell yes.
12 comments:
I'm so jealous! YES!! I wanna float stiff as a board, light as a feather....I haven't played in a pool in forever...maybe we should rent a hotel room just to swim. :)
Macey
How wonderful to just let go! I love the water, but I'm usually inhibited by others seeing my big self in swimwear, or in the actual pool.
It's been a long time since I just played and got wrinkly fingers, I'm going to try to make that one goal this summer, to just do this with my kids.
We love, love, love the water, and spend a whole day every week of summer at the lake.
(Today was rainy. Wah.)
When I say that our family loves to swim, folks expect that we do laps or something.
Nope. We play! All. Day.
I love it.
I'm glad you're having so much fun. This post is so JOYFUL. Thanks for it.
What a wonderful way to be more mindful of just engaging in life. I definitely need to say YES in this way more often. You've inspired me. I 'm going to give it a try. I wonder how long it will take for my fingers to uncurl for being attached to keyboard for hours and hours and hours every day?
wow...i want to go to there.
Have you read the book Yes Man? hilarious.
I was going to leave a really thoughtful comment but the phone rang and now I've forgotten my comment and now the kid wants to be fed...
so thanks for making me smile. :)
:) Saying yes is the best, most positive experience ever. It means being openminded and flexible, and taking things as they come and being spontaneous, and all the other fun adjectives out there!
Shawna's Study Abroad
P.S. I tagged you in my last post!
I need to start saying yes more.
My parents have a pool and we'll be visiting them in about a week so it'll be fun to play in it.
hah its great feeling light in water heheh i prefer the sea than the pool but whichever I choose in Malta its been high season since MAy LOL...good day passed from SITS
Oh to be a kid again! I bet your kids LOVE when you play with them! And I am also jealous that you are spending time in the pool while I am stuck in utah in the rain storms.
hmph!
Funny you should post this, because just the other day I took the girls to the pool and I didn't even put my suit on. I was dying to finish a book I had been reading. The girls always beg me to come in. Maybe I should...
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