Seeking Life

A woman I know was telling about how she and her husband used to connect with, and serve, people on the street and how she used to enjoy it, and how alive it made her feel. That was before kids. Her life now, similar to mine, involved 3 kids, school, kinder, home, community, part time work and so on. It didn't always seem as 'alive'. So, I've been thinking today about the times and things in my life that make me feel most alive. Hmm, also, I think, at different stages of our lives, we need to see the 'alive' bits differently, or identify them anyway, to see they are actually there. I reckon it can be hard to actually choose to do the things that make us feel most alive.

A walk around the block

Well, this post was going to be a double win, a triumphant missive of mum over global warming and non-sleeping littlest billy goat gruff(LBGG). Alas, sigh, there can only be one winner, and today it was the LBGG (no sleep, okay, okay and no global warming involved (two wins, then)). Not that I really wanted to walk around the block to get LBGG to sleep, I thought I'd take the easy way and just put him in the car. After an internal wrestle, and I think mainly because I was reading some stuff about climate change yesterday (Manna Gum and Green Electricity Watch) and thinking that if I really think other people are important like I say I do (love your neighbours and all that) I need to live it as well. Sigh. I didn't feel particularly virtuous or uplifted, more grumbly and grumpy, anyway, hooray for me, for one little walk around the block instead of drive in the car. (There were some nice moments actually, chatting to the 4 year old, waving and saying hello to a couple of neighbours... Win one for community too? Hmm)

Joy on the tram

"It's nice to see our friends on the tram, isn't it?", said my four year old. We had just disembarked from our tram trip home after a school drop off. We had just had a joyful encounter with a woman we see periodically and talk to, on the tram. She is always pleased to see us, so much so, and so undeserveredly that it makes me reflect upon friendship given so fully, and freely and how good that makes me feel. It makes my day as we chat about the kids, what they're doing, which day is kinder day, what she is doing, and where she's going. She's great to chat with. I love it. The tram, it's not just about combating global warming, it's a joy filled connection with community.