I received an interesting comment from Therese on the previous post. Actually, I think all the comments I ever receive are interesting, but she posed a good question: What does that mean, practically speaking, to you?
Well, the first thing that came to mind was the other night when I took my daughter and her boyfriend out to dinner at Applebee's. We were sitting at a table and, with one of the chairs empty, I decided I'd just make myself comfortable and put my feet up in the chair. I didn't worry about what someone might think and it wasn't like I had my feet on the table. C'mon, I do have some manners. We were there to relax, enjoy the food and each other's company. And that's what we did. We didn't worry about how loud we laughed. What was important was that we were laughing together! I think sometimes we get so wrapped up in the way we think everything should be in life that we lose the ability to enjoy it.
I remember one time when I visited my Grandmother after she moved into assisted living. She opened the door to her apartment wearing a robe and not much of anything else. She came out halfway through the door to let me in, but I protested because there were people in the hall who would see her. She pushed me aside, came out in the hallway, and did a little shimmy as she said, "Well, maybe I'll just show 'em what I've got."
She was about 85 years old and this was the most hysterical thing I'd ever seen her do!! This was a woman who had always before been so prim and proper, everyhing in it's place and a place for everything. It was absolutely fabulous to see her do something so goofy.
Anyway, I think it's about living life to it's fullest, enjoying every moment, and not taking everything (least of all yourself) too seriously.
