On my way back from the track one day last week (much less impressive than it sounds), I cut through behind the elementary school where the playgrounds are. I’ve done this many times, but for some reason the set of empty swings caught my eye, hanging there all forlorn. (If you don’t think swings can look forlorn you weren’t there.) I remembered how much I loved swinging as a little girl. How I would often just swing and swing to my heart’s content.
I felt a nostalgic itch coming on. It’s been forever since I’ve been on a swing.
A thought about seizing the moments and enjoying life popped into my head.
Hey, why not.
Checking first to make sure no human being was within viewing distance, I ran over and plopped myself into the smooth black belt. My running shoes grated in the oval chasm worn in the mulch beneath. Grasping the chains (they felt familiar already) I pushed off and stuck my feet into the air, soaring up into the breeze.
Wow, I thought, pumping my legs, this is great! Now I really did remember why I had loved swinging so much. It felt so carefree. So happy. So alive.
The sky was blue and clear and the trees waved at me with their cool green leaves. The world was mine. And the troubles….well, what troubles?
I tried to think something lofty and spiritual to blog about the experience as I swung a little higher (laugh at me, would you), but all I could come up with was the silly grin on my face. I sheepishly tried to smother it and hoped earnestly that no one came around the corner just then. Imagine the mortification of a nearly twenty-one-year-old swinging on the playground? Savoring a few more to and fros, the very thought had me hopping back off the swing much sooner than I wanted, ridiculously invigorated all the same.
One of these days I’m going to find an empty swing all alone somewhere (alone – in the city) and just swing away into the blue sky and laugh to my heart’s content. Simple, but magical.
Life weighing you down? Find yourself a swing. Hop on. Soar away. Refresh.
You probably won’t have any profound revelations. You might even feel silly. But oh-so-delightful.
Amen!
I did the same a few days ago.
‘Delightful’ says it nicely.
Oh, I know the feeling!! I love to swing also! My Memaw and I will sometimes sit on her porch swing and sing together!! We’re called the “Swingin’ Singers” by our family!
I love your blog!! Sometimes what you write are things that I need to hear. It’s almost like you and I are going through the same things sometimes.
God Bless!
Bekah
Mmmmm…*breathes deeply*….sounds wonderful.
Oh, you mean respectable girls in their twenties don’t swing in public??!! Oh dear…..
I loved this post. Hey, I happen to live out in the country (at this time in my life anyway… hehehe) and have ready access to two swings. Just enough for you…. and me!
Let’s try it sometime 
(((HUGS)))
I *love* swinging! It is so delightful when some cute little girl asks me to come a swing with her! An excellent excuse for something I’ve been dying to do!
Oh, and about the my brown skirt, I made it! I found the material on sale (yeah for sales!) at Joann’s. I used the Simplicity pattern #9466. BTW, this is the pattern Esther Ulmer uses a lot for her skirts! She got me hooked on it, too! [grin]