Here’s something, that happened to me on Friday, that I didn’t mention over the weekend.
This last Friday, I was off of work. The bad thing about this was that I was spending my day off battling a medium-sized migraine. Looking back, it wasn’t that severe… but I digress. After feeling better, I decided to see if there was any mail that day. Put on sandals, get keys, open door, close door, walk, walk, walk to the community mailboxes. I opened our mailbox and, well, no mail.
As I’m walking back, I start to pass the small kiddie playground area built for the general community to use. I stopped. A lightbulb in my mind lit up, flickered and burned itself out. I looked around. No one near the area. No one to watch me, in case I make a utter fool of myself. I walk over to the parallel monkey-bars. Just the right height. I’m underneath the bars, with memories of my old high school days when I did some gymnastics on the side. I look around again… it’s now or never.
Grabbing one of the outer bars in a underhand grip with both hands, I command my abdominals and upper legs to pull up, making sure not to swing back at all. Up, up, up, as I take my feet, legs locked, in one continual motion from ground to air above the bars, while using my arms to pull while I go upside-down. I keep going, putting my hips on the bar where my hands are and my feet coming down to the other bar. Locking my left foot on the other bar, I use my back to pull the rest of my body to attention above the bars. I look around again, surveying from my new perspective. No one looking. Good! Enough of that. I position my hands on the bar and let myself slide forward and downward, head first, towards the ground. Midway through, I slowly control my descent with my arms locked in a pull, while locking my legs straight and using my abdominals to lower my legs in a controlled descending pike. All the way down. Feet hovering above the ground with me still hanging. Drop down. Everything still in my pockets. Cool! No one looking. Good!
It’s times like that when I’m reminded to be thankful. At thirty-five, I’m pretty sure that some guys would give anything to be able to do what I did. And I am thankful, every day, for all the things in my life.
Thank you God. Thank you for giving me the body to do good things, the mind to do great things, and the soul that commands them both to do awesome things. Amen to that!
Cheers!
I thank God for you! I love you, Mom
Wow! I wish I could have seen that. Awesome!
Wonderful that you did this!
I, too, have ventured onto a playground (old public school) and been on the monkeybars (though likely not as physically performed as you!) and found it to be a joyful experience. It really does make one thankful and, for me, it made me feel very present in my self, and grateful.
i also felt giddy afterward!