Monday Morning Motivator-THE THRILL OF IT ALL

THE THRILL OF IT ALL

The other day while running around the reservoir in Central Park after a big rain, I stopped to watch a sparrow frolicking with abandon in a big, lovely puddle. She (I know my birds) splashed and splattered with such delight that it made me laugh out loud. But she wasn’t the only girl around who found the puddle irresistible. Soon a small person of about 4, dressed in her pink raincoat and pink boots, spotted the puddle and did what all little people do with puddles: She jumped up and down in it, landing hard with both feet to make sure the water splashed way up in the air. She giggled and squealed (just like the sparrow) at the same time, of course. Everybody - big or little - knows that’s how you do it. The images of the sparrow and the little girl delighted me all that lovely day. They still do. Funny how something so simple and small, so unexpected, can thrill you, isn’t it? But of course you have to be open to them, don’t you?

Here’s another one - also in Central Park... I spotted a little boy, probably about 6, throwing a soft ball to whom I guessed was his older brother. I was amazed. This young boy was throwing hard, straight-as-an-arrow fast balls right down the middle. I couldn’t take my eyes off him. Finally, I went over to him and said, “Wow! You sure have a terrific arm!" (I know my arms. I used to work for the Yankees...) “I bet you’re planning on becoming a baseball player, right?” “Yes!” he said without hesitation. “Then, you will be!” I said, also without hesitation. That was it. But it was enough. A small, ordinary moment that, six months later, still thrills me.

I bet if you think about it, you have a bunch of wonderful small but unforgettable moments like these of your own. Think about them. Describe them to someone you love. Listen to and be thrilled by theirs. And if you have a chance, I’d love it if you tellme about them, too. We’ll put them on our site.

Andy Warhol said, “You have to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you...suddenly thrill you.” He was right.

To drive home the point, here’s one more example: Yesterday, our dog, Willa, met a mother duck and her five tiny ducklings in a beautiful lake. No big deal in the great scheme of thing, I guess. But it was a moment I absolutely loved...and decided not to forget. Take a look: http://www.throwoutfiftythings.com/video/willa-video-2

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Permalink Reply by Bob Saulnier on July 10, 2012 at 5:11pm

Gail:

In today's delightful Motivator, you invited us to cite similar events of our own, bringing to mind some of mine, including this one:

Some years ago, visiting at the home of friends, I was lucky enough to find myself standing in their back yard with only their little 3-year old girl at my side, next to a large apple tree, from which a large, low limb had been sawed a long time ago, leaving a flat space` surrounded by a bark curl.

To me, it looked like one of those entrance "doors" recalled from early childhood picture books and movies, where the happy little woodland creatures lived. So, while Susan watched and listened intently, I knocked and said "Is anybody home?" In my effort at vntriloquism, a little voice answered from indide the tree, "Yes". I said, "Are you a squirrel?" The answer, "No". I asked,"Are you a rabbit?" "No". "Are you a bird?" "No". "Are you a monkey?" "No".

Susan said, "Try turtle"....I was thrilled.....I melted.

It's one of my treasures.

* * * *

Susan has her own little girl now - two of them - and she's still my little pal. She doesn't remember the tree or her turtle but, consistent with your essay, the thrill of that precious scene is warmly etched here and won't disappear until I do - if then. As you know, little children regularly have many such experiences, sometimes in rapid succession, flipping through them as pages in a picture book...busy..doing their important job - moving on - growing up...."What's next?". They don't have time or a reason to linger and make something big out of anything so small.