Friday Vibes
On being still and cocktail napkin doodles
Slow down, stay in the moment, and be.
Is this you? Or are you barreling through life, never stopping, always doing, going, striving, and achieving?
I’m a little of both, but I try to live mindfully. It doesn’t always work out that way, though.
Yesterday, I took my daily walk to the park with Cooper. I wanted to spend more time since the day felt like late summer, not early fall, and I’d be pulling out the fleece and sweaters in two days.
One mile in, the day was warmer than I realized, and we stopped under the shade of an oak tree on a sandstone bench. Once I deduced the local groundhog (who burrows under the oak tree) was nowhere nearby, I took me time and sat still, listening to the wind rustle the leaves and marveling at the foliage at my feet. I snapped a few images, collected several acorns of varying decomposition for my sketchbook, and then we continued walking.
Cooper and I stopped another half mile in; this time, I sat on the asphalt, and he frog-legged to cool his belly. This time, Lake Pee Wee was my view, and the wind cooled the sweat on my hairline and neck.
Twenty feet to my right, I noticed movement. A doe was foraging along the tree line. The doe wasn’t bothered by our presence, and I sat for fifteen minutes, being, not doing, proud that I managed to carve out some time to observe, watch and listen. I videotaped the doe, but that was also for sketching purposes. (Just because I say I want to and try to heed the sage wisdom to slow down and be, doesn’t mean I’m always successful.) However, this was pretty textbook chillaxing.
When we reached the top of “cardiac hill,” as I refer to the last leg of the trail, the densest, steepest section, I realized I didn’t have my car fob and attached pepper spray device. A tiny panic fluttered in my throat. I must’ve left them at one of the stop off spots.
Now, needing water, with nobody in sight, I considered my options. Retrace my walk (the least appealing option—I’m fit, but I’m also 61 years old and know my limits), call my husband to bring the second car key (another least appealing option), or head to the welcome center, hoping a park employee would be available to golf cart around the park to find my key fob. I also considered that a kind stranger might see my fob on the path and bring it to the welcome center.
As it turns out, a park employee in a golf cart helped me, a kind stranger retrieved my keys from the bench under the oak, and I learned I was not the only one to leave my car keys on the trail.
Four miles later, Cooper and I made it to the car, drank all the water, and drove home.
When I recounted my adventure to my friend, she asked why didn’t I carry my key in my pocket.
A solid question. I only had to mention the pepper spray, and she said, Oh yeah. Because women know. We are always alert to the dangers of walking alone. It’s a shitty way to live our lives, but the alternative that we’d be attacked or provoked and not prepared could get ugly. Yesterday, I let my guard down to live in the moment. Then I forgot my car key.
Will I continue to find moments to stop and be? You bet. Next time, I’ll remember to pocket my keys when I stop. Or at least I hope I won’t forget.
Cocktail Napkin Doodles
If you find yourself in an airport (or coffee shop) with a minute to spare, grab a cocktail napkin and outline a story.
Who are your characters?
What do they want?
How will you get them what they want?
What obstacles will they encounter?
Why tell this story?
You’ll need more words (80-100,000) to fully develop a novel, like where and when the story takes place, plot, themes, narrative arcs, and more, but that will come as your story evolves.
The important thing is, once you get home, tape your cocktail napkin doodle on your desk or whiteboard, plant your butt in your chair and start writing.
It’s not too late to sign up for NaNoWriMo, the annual writing event taking the universe by storm every November.
LMK what you’re doing to be still, and what you’re writing! Have a safe weekend, and try not to misplace your keys. (;
Stay curious. Stay safe. Make an impact.