We really have an amazing life.
I have to remember that every once and while, especially over that past few weeks. Chais and I have been trying to pull ourselves together, pondering more often than not “What the hell are we really doing?”
I’ve been questioning the decisions of life more than I EVER have before.
It’s good to just leave the worries behind, exit the confides of our home and do something outside the routine. Don’t you agree?
Today we just relaxed.
We went to our place of zen. The reservoir.
We find comfort here.
We ate fried rice. Drank coffee, water and beer. Pondered life. Took notes. Voiced dreams we’ve never spoken before.
We enjoyed time together away from our lap tops. We we laughed while listening to Tina Fey’s audio book and gazed at the reflection of the lake dancing on the ceiling of the straw roof. We took naps.
We welcomed curious visitors: a cat, a gecko and a dog.
We watched as the sun crept behind low-lying clouds allowing a light rain to fall upon us.
…and then the world seemed to mist over as it accepted a cleansing down-pour.
The combination of Bon Iver playing in the back ground and the multitude of droplets hitting the water played an almost life soundtrack. The audio, the smell of water hitting dry earth, & the misty aura of the vision before me created a moment in time that I hope to always remember. As tears formed in my eyes, out of my peripheral I noticed Chais ease into the water and it seemed he too was experiencing this same “coming-together” spell.
All the silly pondering discussed earlier in the day seemed to wash away. The “what ifs”, the “how comes” and the fearful wondering if we are living our life in the best sequential way was forgotten by this lapse of serenity. Through tears I gently whispered, “Thank you” as my way of surrendering to God …to myself… because it was here that I realized how truly amazing life is.
If we can have these imports of appreciation over our life lived, then we must be doing something right.
Within minutes the rain subsided and the sun yet again revealed itself. We paused in this stitch of time and allowed it to soak deep into our bones.
This day was exactly what we needed…it was a reminder.
Isn’t LIFE truly TRULY amazing?
Have you ever experienced a lapse of serenity…a “coming-together” moment? What did it make you realize?
Britany
Loved this. Your pictures and descriptions of the day gave me such a vivid feel for what you were experiencing. I’ve certainly had days like this myself, but as you said, life is pretty amazing when you’re doing something you love! good for you guys for not being afraid to do just that!
Shawna Meyer
Thanks Britany! I imagine that you too have felt this blissful amazement towards life. Sometimes it means stepping foot out of your routine, the daily grind, and a traditional life. Travel tends to do this, doesn’t it?
Thanks for reading, enjoying, and commenting! Cheers!
Desirae
What a great post Shawna! I need to take more days like this one!
Life is too short to spend all your time worrying.
Shawna Meyer
Isn’t that true Desirae? Life is too short to spend worrying…although I think everyone is guilty of it. You do need to take more days like this Des, you deserve it. The beauty of it for me, is that I have the opportunity to document it to remember later. Even if you did this during your daily life…take photos so they make your day look abnormally blissful (what I like to call “life porn” photos). That’s what I do…It makes me see things I normally wouldn’t see in my day. I then write a compelling story to go along with the photos, and BAM…just like that my day appears completely different. Not to mention, you live in beautiful Nebraska…spending a day at the River or at Yanney…is really a perfect way to step out of your routine. Don’t forget to take “life porn” photos!
Monique
LOVE!!! It is always amazing to have those days where you leave everything behind and realize how happy you really are. Hugs!
Shawna Meyer
Thanks for reading Mo…you know first had how beautiful the reservoir is! Thanks for introducing it to us!
Adam
*Enters highly-jealous mode, level 5*
Shawna Meyer
hahaha, this is brilliant! Adam, we often say the same thing about you (we’re highly jealous of flyerheroes.com & how you market!!) It’s all in the eye of the beholder isn’t it? Besides, soon you’ll be traveling the world, and experiencing new, amazingly eye opening adventures!
Tanapat
I just went to a reservoir on 118 highway yesterday. It was with CM Sunday cycling club. A planned 80-km ride turned into 104k. At some point it was too hilly(20-25% grade) we had to get on our bike and carried them.
You guys definitely had more fun than I did
Shawna Meyer
You probably got more out of your experience Pat…like rock hard thighs, chiseled calves and a burning sweat! Sounds brutal…but oddly fun! Next time though, you should go to the reservoir to just chill…it’s wonderful!
Mandy
What a great post & pics.., well done Shawna. Made me think about if we are really living life to the full or if we’re just going after the unimportant things in life. Seems like we’re always working hard to achieve the unimportant stuff, as if we’ll die of hunger if we had to stop for a while and just….breath.
Personally I leave home at 7am and come back at 6pm from my office job everyday and rarely find time so spend a day like that. Lately I’m really questioning if there could be a way of living a better life. I usually get these thoughts in Winter more often, as I leave home early and return when it’s already dark and feel like I was just sitting at a desk all day, staring at a screen while life passes away, without a chance to go out and just feel the sun for a while or see natural light.
However making such changes is not easy when you’ve been programmed from a very young age to “work hard” and “do something”. I find that even in my off days and while on holiday it doesn’t come natural to me to just be, feel, listen. I find that I always want to “do” something or “go” someplace. Last month we spent a month in Malaysia and the first 10 days I always wanted to go someplace, do something, see everything…rush around as if I’m going to miss it all if I just don’t rush around. Slowly the “just be” spell started to kick in. At first I was afraid that I’ll feel I’m wasting time and being lazy. However this is when we really started enjoying Malaysia, instead of driving like mad to get somewhere we just took slow walks and explored and experienced the place.
As you said life is great and I really want to start remembering this more often.
Sorry for the long post…just sharing some thoughts
Shawna Meyer
Ahhh Mandy, this was a wonderful response…thanks for sharing. I love what you said from the very beginning: ….we’re always working hard to achieve the unimportant stuff, as if we’ll die of hunger if we had to stop for a while and just….breath.” I can relate to that 100%!
I think many of us are trained to do, do, do and go, go, go. It’s as if we feel guilty for actually taking a break…as if our world would change that much if we actually stopped to feel the breeze, hear the birds, soak in the sun, and feel our chest moving up and down from our own life. I’m glad that you were able to do this in Malaysia. It too took travel for me to stop and realize how important it is to live past working. Hopefully, you’ll remember those slower moments in Malaysia and be able to reiterate those into your daily life. I get working 7am to 6pm and feeling like you don’t even get to get fresh air. I too use to do the same thing. We have to choose to take moments for ourselves…treat yourself like you are an important meeting that you can’t miss.
Thanks for reading Mandy, and sharing!
Danielle
The photographs are beautiful and your writing was very eloquent. Very well done!
Shawna Meyer
Thanks Danielle!
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