Just keep swimming ...

While driving today, I heard something that made me smile and do a little reflecting. The deejay said: “Old people have a young person stuck inside of them yelling: “What happened?”

Earlier today I took my daughter to swimming lessons and had a really great time watching her perform the various strokes and moves in the water. I was impressed by the swim instructor and her confidence and her ability to teach the kids to swim. I was also impressed by the kids and their desire to jump into the cold, frigid water and get busy with monkey, tree rocket!

As I watched the kids swimming and trying their best to do the breast and back stroke, I thought to myself … Kids are such great examples of how we should live and be. They jump right in, try things, accept each other and keep trying when they don’t get it right.

I think that’s part of what happens as we age – we lose that beautiful part of ourselves that lets us really live.

(Back to the moment in the car) - As I turned the corner to home, I thought – there is a young person inside of me but she’s not saying “What happened?” She is shouting – Keep swimming Wendy, keep trying, keep believing, keep learning and keep LIVING!
What’s the ‘young voice’ inside of you saying?

{The no-smile, grumpy old lady drive by encounter}

The following scene is real and continues to happen day after day after day ..

Monday thru Friday, I drive down a certain street at 11:30 AM. I’m heading north. The car that passes me every day at the same place and time is heading south. The lady in the car is anything but happy. And if she is listening to anything my guess is its “Doom & Gloom” radio. You see, every day I see this person. She is older and her face is full of anger and ‘disgruntled with life’ look. It’s possible the topic for today’s “Gloom” show is – how to look angry all the time. Perhaps that is her favorite episode and she has it on repeat? I don’t know. (I secretly wish I could put something else on her radio…) Maybe she could use a little positive re-programming?

You see, I have this desire to see her smile – just once this year. So when I get to the very spot that I know we are going to pass – I look her directly in the eyes and SMILE. (The turtle photo above gives you a glimpse into the north & south daily encounter).

Does it work? No – never.
Will I give up? No - never.

‘Drive by’ stats for 2008 –
Grump Lady : NO SMILES (yet)

PS: There’s hope: 28 days left in 2008 – there’s still time for a miracle…. :)