Flying Solo
Can you imagine always being on time? Never having your husband waiting in the car for you? Never having your kids complain that you didn’t pick them up the moment their after-school activity ended? Never keeping a friend waiting at Starbucks because you got a phone call just as you were leaving the house to meet them? Sounds impossible, right?
Well, here’s my secret.
Last month I went to Florida all by myself. I left my husband and four daughters behind and headed to sunny St. Pete Beach for five days. I was alone, not knowing a soul in a place I had never been before. My friend lent me her apartment, gave me the address, handed me the keys, told me to fly into Tampa and that was it.
The thought of being completely alone had scared me at first, but once I settled into the apartment, went to the supermarket and took a walk on the beach, the freedom of being self-reliant began to sink in. Never late, never early, for those five days I was always right on time for whatever I wanted to do.
Conveniently staying near the famous Don Cesar Resort, I walked over there for yoga on the beach each morning. One day, I noticed a small grass hut next to our yoga spot with a large tattooed man standing inside offering parasailing. It sounded like it would be fun to do so I went back to the apartment, changed into my bathing suit and came back ready to fly. And fly I did.
I felt like a bird high in the sky able to kiss the sun. With my giant yellow smiley face parachute behind me, I waved to the people below. Feeling like I was one with the Universe, I held on tight and yelled out my hopes, dreams and wishes to the vast open space beneath the sun and the sky. And the wind echoed back to me that I was right on time.
We all need time to ourselves to remind us of what makes our heart beat a little faster when we are alone in the world. So I guess it’s not a secret anymore. The only question is; what will make you soar?