Bringin up the rear.....

I walked the labyrinth yesterday with about ten other women.  I had been looking forward to this for such a long time...part of a much-anticipated full day of events for women...

Just as I had imagined ~

I could hear the leaves and acorns crunching beneath our feet.....

I could hear the lovely sounds of chimes echoing in the trees...

I could feel the sun warming my face and breeze blowing through my hair...

I could feel the undeniable synergy that was created by our footsteps on the Earth...


I fondled remarkably smooth acorns and stones in my hands as I kissed Mother Earth with my feet...

EVERYTHING was EXACTLY as I had ANTICIPATED.

How often does that happen?!

That would have been enough for me.  More than enough.  

Isn't life peculiar though?  So many things had NOT gone according to plan when considering the whole day/event.  Yet - we went with the flow - and it turned out even better that way...

But the labyrinth walk ---

Now THAT met every expectation and then some...

I had asked my partner to lead, because I was concerned about "confining" participants with my slow and careful footsteps.  Seems every step I take these days is carefully calculated.  


A disabled woman, older than I, was in front of me.  What a joy she was!  She had really engaged and interacted with the group during her couple of hours there.  I was concerned about her safety in walking the labyrinth.  Concerned that she may tire or trip.  She didn't seem concerned at all.  Isn't that funny?  She wore her coat, and carried her purse, despite my offer to take them for her.  I thought that was so cute.  Reminded me alot of my Nana...

A couple of times I checked in with her - asking if she was ok.  She just kept smiling and walking.  "How are you doing?" I asked.  "I'm doing great!" she says.  




Smiling.
Walking.

Smiling.
Walking.

I kept thinking about how tired she must be.  But, she didn't seem to be thinking about that at all.

Smiling.
Walking.

Smiling.
Walking.


As I looked down at my feet...the grass...the leaves...I kept seeing her feet...her shoes...her cane...passing mine.  At the "turns" she didn't wobble.  Sometimes she paused; but then...she just kept walking.  My feet wobbled more than hers!

That's pretty noteworthy, don't you think?

My. feet. wobbled. more. than. hers.

And, to me, it is quite impressive that she walked that entire labyrinth - a quarter mile in - a quarter mile out.  I wonder how many more miles she has walked on this Earth than I have?

Whew.

My own words from the original Faces of Eve poem instantly come to mind:

"I have so much to learn...
so much to learn...
still - I've come a long, long way...
one day I'll get it...
I'll get it all the way..."

So, I don't really know the "gist" of this post, except just sharing, and thinking that ---

there's much to be said for humbling yourself and playing the role of "caboose."