Day 12 - Playground

Heather’s family have been in the same home since her parents were first married (her parents are still there). Behind that house and maybe a block or so away was a playground. Every time there was a gathering at her house, all the kids would at some point end up at this playground, spinning each other on the merry-go-round, swinging (and jumping off) the swings, running around catching lightning bugs, playing tag or hide-and-go-seek. It was such a different time back then when there was not an option of video games, internet and TVs in every room of the house.

Anyhow, right down the street from my house now, there is a really nice park that I pass whenever I walk to the market. Today as I passed it, I realized why I love that park so much. It looks exactly like the park that was by Heather’s house. I’ve noticed in recent years that most parks have removed the teeter-totters and merry-go-rounds probably due to injury or whatnot. But this park has all the “originals” and definitely tugs on my heart strings every time I pass it.

So, today I decided to turn around and go back to it. The closer I got, the clearer to me it became as to what my day’s intention would be: to swing on the swings. As I approached the swings, I tried to remember the last time I was even on a swing. Honestly, I think it was when my kids were little and I used to put them on my lap and swing with them. I found myself also remembering when Heather and I were little and used to jump off the swings and mark the spot we landed to have a contest as to who could jump farther. Wow, that’s nuts. I literally can picture us as kids so vividly right now.

As I was swinging back and forth, back and forth, while holding onto the attached chains- I let my arms fully extend and let my head ease all the way back. While I was swaying, I could see the sky and the ground behind me. I remember doing this as a kid too. My head hung so far back I almost felt upside down. I remember we used to flip backwards off while still holding the side chains (I would NOT be attempting that one! LOL). 

I honestly believe in my heart, that under any other circumstances I would have kept walking right past the park today. I would have admired it briefly, but never have considered actually getting on the swings. I would have reasoned to myself that I’m grown and have no business playing at a park or that it’s too cold or whatever. But just for today and just for those 10-15 minutes, I let my hair down (literally) and played on the swings. #noregrets #lifeisgood