The Gift

- personal reflection
~ written for Writer's Island

Haven't we all been given a gift at one time or another in our lives that we accepted politely and casually tossed aside not immediately recognizing its value? Maybe when we were kids it was the clothes that were given to us. More interested in the bells and whistles of toys, we never saw the value in the clothes; but we wore them until they were thread bare, which was usually long after the trendy toy was gone.

For me The Gift that I am continually given is The Gift of the here and now. The Gift of the Moment, and man oh man do I flitter that gift away without even appreciating it or realizing it. An afternoon off from work? I fill it with errands to run and chores to tend to. A rainy Sunday morning...well something must need to be done. I often wonder what would happen if I took those moments that are"given" to me and enjoyed them, enveloped myself in the power of free time. What if I went to the park across from my office and laid on my back and played the game where you guess what shape, animal or figure the clouds make. What would happen to me?

Truth be told I have no idea what would happen. I guess I would feel relaxed and enjoy myself but I have created myself into a Human-doing too often, instead of a Human-being. I will admit I am a Type A, slightly neurotic, increasingly chaotic person. I try, really I do, to sit, to be, to reflect. I guess as my Nana used to say, I just have "ants in my pants" so cliche I know. I run until I drop and then I sleep harder than a rock. There is no in between for me. I am either "here" or waiting to get "there" thus never cherishing and enjoying The Gift, the many gifts that come from the here and now.

[Author's Note: Here I find a quandary I started writing about The Gift of "the here and now" and then at this point I see that perhaps The Real Gift, or a secondary gift for me would be "finding the in between" but that feels more like a "goal" than a gift so I will leave this as is for now....but I am interested in thoughts......]


(c)Michelle S. 2007.

All Rights Reserved ~

Come check out other writers on Writer's Island or better yet, come on over and join the island!

* I consider this and most all of work here works in progress. I know there are several areas. All constructive feedback is welcome.