Monday, December 01, 2008

In Defiance of Gravity

I left work for home a little later than usual today and rang up DM to let him know I was on my way. He informed me that Kylee was there and had to go to gymnastics for her last class tonight.

DM was tired. You could hear it in his voice. So I told him that I would take her to her class and he could go to bed.

SHE was very excited. Nana had never come to one of her classes before. She took my hand and led me across the parking lot, skipping and bouncing to the front door. We went to the cubbies and left her pants and shoes and jacket - and clad only in her leotard, she raced for the floor.

About 20 little girls and a couple of boys did jumping jacks, then just jumped up and down, stretched out, did splits and warmed up in general before heading over to the bars to practice mounting them. Then they came back to this side of the gym for flying somersaults. There seemed to be quite a bit of down time during this class and as I sat watching them, I realized something.

Those children rarely touched the ground. Most of that hour was spent in the air, jumping, skipping, hopping - they never stopped! The realization made my heart soar.

For I am a grounded thing. I plod or stroll or stride, but I rarely leave the ground anymore. Even the modified levitation of running is beyond my weak ankles and achy knees. At least for now.

I wish there was a way to convey to these bouncy little things that they should keep their flights for as long as they can. Don't let the slump of adolescence hold you firmly to the ground until you forget how to fly. It may seem cool at the time, but as you age and realize that you've lost it, you will regret allowing your feet to stay on the ground.

The defiance of gravity will keep you young... as long as you don't give up your ability to stay aloft.

9 comments:

Faye said...

How true, Sayre. The older we get the more apt we are to plod or mosey--I hate that. When I observe a friend of my same age walking carefully or stooped over it just makes me want to straighten up and--as you say--defy gravity like a child.

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

Well said! My daughter is 9 and still takes gymnastics. It is exhilarating watching those young things flit about like hummingbirds! After 3 years of inactivity, I am finally getting my "wings" back as I have started exercising again and I've lost 16 pounds!

karatemom said...

apparently falling in love or being in love will do it too..At work I have so much time to observe people walking around as they shop ..I see so much that I never noticed before.

your post reminded me of how I had noticed couples ..those that walked near eachother but seemed apart tend to plod along ..those that held hands ( and im talking older couples ) ..they honestly had more pep in their steps..some even seemed to bounce ( perhaps they were newly coupled I dunno) but its intersting..next time you are out ...in a crowded mall etc..take a look ..you will see it too.

PinkPiddyPaws said...

I used to be able to do a double flip on the diving board and then one day it dawned on me that my ass has no business being higher than my head. I haven't done a single dive that wasn't a swan dive since. ha..ha.ha..

Trixie Twatwaffle said...

When I was younger, I had no fear of trampolines. I would fly high on them.

Last time I went on one as a grownup, I was terrified.

It's amazing how that stuff changes.

I love watching kids play. And I love playing with kids. It keeps me young.

Patience said...

I hate gravity.

karisma said...

Its amazing how kids can fly hey? No fear! They don't learn that till we drum it into them! Another lesson in life, taught by the kiddies!

Anonymous said...

Gosh, my kids are the same. I wish I was still like that, or at least, as consistant.

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