Today, I’m thinking about simple moments. Earlier, I was sitting out by the pool at our hotel, my first time doing that. I was alone for about 20 minutes and it was delightful. I was enjoying the gentle breeze, sitting in the shade on this lovely sunny morning. I was enjoying just being in the world.
A woman came out to the pool, smiled at me and chose a lounge a bit away to sunbathe. I was sitting at a table with an umbrella. Shortly after, six young women, I would say about 15 years old, tumbled through the door laughing and talking. They immediately dumped their towels and coverups on a lounge and jumped in the pool still laughing and talking. I don’t know if they were siblings, close friends, or a combination of both. I do know that they were very close and very engaged with one another.
I sat there and just appreciated their joy. Then they started playing the most hilarious game. They broke into two groups. One group was mermaids, and the other group was sirens. A girl in the mermaid group started singing. A girl from the siren group told her she was not allowed to sing that song – she was a mermaid, and that was a siren song. Sailors could crash on the rocks if she sang that song near them. The girl replied “my mother sang this song as a lullaby to me as a child. I can sing this song.” And she resumed singing.
Not only did I find their play, their imaginations, and their creativity delightful, I found that statement, that claiming of voice, that claiming of song incredibly powerful.
There are so many lessons in the simple moments, the importance of camaraderie and connection, the importance of communication and joy, the importance of play. The most powerful message I took with me, though, was the message that we need to claim the right to sing our own songs unapologetically and with gusto. I hope you sing your song today.
Deborah's Deliberations 