I found this poem about my mother while looking through some old writings. I wish I had sent it to her before she died.
I took a walk with my mother the other day.
I noticed how slowly she moved and tried to match her pace.
It was difficult to do.
I felt compelled to speed up.
I felt held back.
My mother is 73 years old and finds it hard to get around sometimes, although she is too stubborn to admit it.
I forced myself to walk at her pace and noticed how everyone else was in such a rush.
We just ambled along, however.
I began to see the world around me, nothing in particular yet everything in general.
I noticed the way clouds floated through the sky on an autumn afternoon.
I listened to the chirping of birds.
I noticed the way the breeze messes up ones hair.
I noticed how the sound of traffic on a busy street means we are all alive and have places to go.
And I saw, maybe for the first time, the light in my mother's eyes as we walked along.
I also noticed that, despite the pain in her legs, her spirit wasn't dampened.
I noticed how she was happy to be alive and have me with her.
And I realized how much I love her, how proud I am to be her son.
I feel so grateful to her for making me SLOW DOWN.
I know she would rather be able to move a little faster and with less pain.
But, somehow, through all of it she managed to teach me again about life - a lesson I keep forgetting - slow down and enjoy the little things.
I should be happy with what I have and not worry so much about the rest of it.
I saw the Goddess in her that day.
I also saw how moving a little slower; one has time to really enjoy life.
Thanks mom for everything you've ever done for me and how much you taught me over the years.
I took a walk with my mother the other day.
I noticed how slowly she moved and tried to match her pace.
It was difficult to do.
I felt compelled to speed up.
I felt held back.
My mother is 73 years old and finds it hard to get around sometimes, although she is too stubborn to admit it.
I forced myself to walk at her pace and noticed how everyone else was in such a rush.
We just ambled along, however.
I began to see the world around me, nothing in particular yet everything in general.
I noticed the way clouds floated through the sky on an autumn afternoon.
I listened to the chirping of birds.
I noticed the way the breeze messes up ones hair.
I noticed how the sound of traffic on a busy street means we are all alive and have places to go.
And I saw, maybe for the first time, the light in my mother's eyes as we walked along.
I also noticed that, despite the pain in her legs, her spirit wasn't dampened.
I noticed how she was happy to be alive and have me with her.
And I realized how much I love her, how proud I am to be her son.
I feel so grateful to her for making me SLOW DOWN.
I know she would rather be able to move a little faster and with less pain.
But, somehow, through all of it she managed to teach me again about life - a lesson I keep forgetting - slow down and enjoy the little things.
I should be happy with what I have and not worry so much about the rest of it.
I saw the Goddess in her that day.
I also saw how moving a little slower; one has time to really enjoy life.
Thanks mom for everything you've ever done for me and how much you taught me over the years.