Slipping out of my professional armour, I pull on my comfortable yoga pants, loosely layered, soft tops and a puffy black coat that some poor duck gave it’s feathers for. Slipping my feet into the neon running shoes, I head out into the blackness to wash my soul of the mind numbing busyness that I so easily slip into. There is just something about frigid temperatures; clear black nights; and crunchy ground that clears my soul.
Strolling a well-worn concrete path around our loop, I can feel peace wash over my consumed mind. The day’s problems fall to the background like dead fleas as I start to quietly hum. Listening to my inhaling and exhaling, my soul re-inflates. Rounding the corner, my feet grind to a halt, refuse to move. Slowly, like an almost frozen arthropod, I take in my surroundings. I know both families. Gazing to my right, my mind races over our shared history and their journey of life and death. Gazing to my left, my thoughts are filled with fewer facts and lots of wonderings about the precious family that resides in that dwelling. That is when I realize, this beautiful multi-colored, lighted-heart on the bushes facing the street was a generous gift from one neighbor to another, letting them know each evening that they were “with” them in this battle. This wasn’t an extravagant gift, but a simple, daily reminder that they were there if they needed anything.
Walking away, my mind was filled with gratitude that I reside in a neighborhood where people care for each other in simple ways. A few laps later, I found my mind making a list of ways I could participate even more in building up and supporting those I live alongside. Here are a few of my thoughts: weed a flower bed; leave a note with something specific that you enjoy looking at about their house; Offer to rake a yard; and offer to take their stuff to the dump when you go. You get the idea. I would love to hear some of your thoughts and ideas. Feel free to leave them in the comments.
Until We Chat Again,
Crystal
