~For my friend, Cathy Aten, artist, poet, soul-journer on her own MS odyssey who has inspired me once again by her heartfilled wisdom writing.
How our childhood experiences do prepare us for the unknowable that is to come; this place where we find ourselves right now. I miss the smell of damp earth too but for me the pinnacle childhood adventure was climbing trees. The roughness of the bark, and the blisters on my hands and my filthy, dirty, blackened bare feet. My arms tanned and capable of reaching, pulling my weight up to the next rung of a living Jacob’s Ladder; toes and soles finding a crotch between branches to push off from. The thrill for me was climbing higher to a limb that felt terrifying and simultaneously cradled me against the sky, offering a perfect view into the blue of mystery...eternity captured in each ragged breath that filled my lungs as I found my place to rest and dream, way up there. I didn’t dare look down.
How free and blessed we were in those days, in those bodies, these bodies, the very same ones...yet so unfamiliar. There are moments when I glimpse my strength, a flash, like a pixie quickly dashing off, leaving me to wonder if it had really felt this way before. Seems so long ago, has it only been a few years? And gone, with a blink; me winded, wilting, sitting down, grateful to have made it back to home base, my cradle-bough bed, before falling to the floor in a puddle. And here we are my friend, as prepared as anyone could possible be in this strange enigmatic forest, soul-journers, fortified with joyful memories, girlhood victories to draw upon for courage. How blessed we are in these days, in these bodies, those bodies, the very same ones that have carried us along despite our battle wounds...allowing us to understand the freedom granted by awareness and gratitude. Yes, the very same qualities too, that accompanied us through childhood and kept us happy and safe.
linking to Emily @:
Lovely trees, glad you liked mine & the area i live on my latest post. How I love natures silence, too.
ReplyDeleteLove this post
ReplyDeleteI know it might '
seem strange
but in someways
what was and now in
later years is
so different.
Wonderful memories
and still the desire
but not the same energy
Hi Laura, Thank you for sharing your beautiful view of the trees. :)
ReplyDeleteThis moved me more than I can say.
ReplyDeleteThinking of you...
ReplyDeleteso beautiful and moving, you took me back to my favorite childhood tree and it's giant restful limbs... xox k
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful, filled with gratitude and life wisdom. Love the vision of you high in a tree and dreaming!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Very touching... and grounding. This is a beautiful expression of words.
ReplyDeleteDeeply spectacular writing and imagery (fab photo); I am right there with you as a child, and we share our souls now as adults. Blessings to you, brave soul.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post! I love it!
ReplyDeleteBy the way, my best friend's name is Cathy:)
Hugs
Joo
xxx
Thank you for sharing this beautiful text and this lovely picture:)
ReplyDeleteIn Northern Norway the winter is still very cold, and I really long for summer:)
Great post!
ReplyDeleteThis morning I thought of my childhood and how I "felt freedom, and it tingled".
Blessings.
i'm always amazed at at your positive and "i say yes to life" attitude..this speaks of a character, shaken through many storms but never gone bitter or broken.
ReplyDeleteI used to LOVE climbing trees, as high and precarious as I could be. That first paragraph took me right back. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou took me back to my childhood treehouse where I could meet my true self...far from the madding crowd.
ReplyDeleteYou're a gifted writer and I shall enjoy more of your words in the future...
Such beautiful reflections on childhood, the blackened feet and all.
ReplyDeleteI like the thought of awareness and gratitude as qualities that accompany us through childhood, qualities that keep us happy and safe. This is something for me to ponder on a bit...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful! Thank you.
ReplyDeletesmiles...those were the days...but we were given breath for yet another...what will we make of today...
ReplyDeleteKeep that blessed child alive!
ReplyDeleteGod bless YOu for all the beauty you have, are and give LAura!
ReplyDeletethis post is breath-taking. I am fascinated with trees, had the same childhood experiences as you described here about climbing them...they represent so much to me, more than any other of God's creations in nature.
ReplyDeleteWhat a touching post...my biggest childhood thrill was running as fast as I could, especially when it was windy out. To this day I still love high winds and sometimes still feel like breaking into a wild run in them :o)
ReplyDeleteThank you for this intensely beautiful insight into your experience.
ReplyDeleteSuch a lovely and poetic revery by your friend, Laura. I was a person who could not climb trees as a child-I was too frightened of leaving the ground as I knew it.
ReplyDeleteCathy's description has helped me understand, so many years later, what it would have been like had I ventured up the maple trees of childhood. Thank you.
The post is as life we all have different memories and we all have to except our bodies as we do each day..Somewhere each day we are touched with wonderful moments if we just look..Your words was my moment of blessings.
ReplyDeleteI just wanted to say thank you and you are in my thoughts.
Katelen
Wow one of the most comprehensive blogs this cat has seen, you almost made me turn green.
ReplyDeleteIs that the right color to use I don't want to abuse.
But enjoyed the little jont about childhood, you really make it easy so it's understood.
Great job on the posts and blog, you really help everyone in from the fog.
So keep up the good work, as I sit around and lurk.
There was a difficult time in my childhood when my safe place was a big holly tree. As crazy as this sounds, I pray that somehow, in some perhaps unexpected way, you are able to climb again.
ReplyDeletethanks for this post, thought inspiring write.
ReplyDeleteHow lucky you are to have those childhood memories. You must have felt strong and capable. For me it has been the opposite ~ I didn't feel strong and able until I was an adult. Now that I know what it feels like I hope I will always remember.
ReplyDeletethis made me cry. oh laura... the gratitude you show, despite the hardship... you are always teaching me. xo
ReplyDeleteThanks for reminding me of my tree climbing days- what a view-! Your kind words over at my place have helped me more than you know!!
ReplyDeletethank you for sharing this experience. beautiful words.
ReplyDelete