Somewhere in between childhood and adulthood is pure magic. ✨
Leaning into curiosity.
Photo Cred: Moya
Ava is the new edition to the reception desk where I work. When I first met her, she was instantly a bright light on my sometimes-cloudy disposition. Ava is seventeen with gorgeous long brown hair, super thin, tan, and on trend with cloths. Yes, she is beautiful physically, but her superpower was her joy. Her nervous laughter and smile uplifted the room and my mood.
The complexities of life were only starting to roll into her world. She has an ex-boyfriend and a new boyfriend and when asked, who broke up with who? she laughed and said, “he broke up with me all the time then I finally broke up with him, but now I have a new boyfriend,” and went on to show me new boyfriend’s photo.
Seventeen is a bit of freedom, curiosity and an avalanche of discovery.
I too was discovering. At the same time I was leaning in to hear about her old and new boyfriend, I, for the first time, felt the passing of time. I could feel the weight of my life’s experiences and the malaise that wrapped around my shoulders.
I wondered if it were possible to bring that level of enthusiasm back into my life?
Later that week I collected my, also seventeen-year-old, niece and we went to breakfast. Conversation was light and I became curious about her curiosity. If I am to lighten up, here’s my opportunity to learn from someone who is already capable of it.
I reveled in her ability to stay in the moment and the sense of “enough time." We hung out for hours after breakfast just talking and relaxing. It was awesome to not be feverishly making “to do” lists and checking them off. She gave me an opportunity to experience a day without conditions. We allowed the day to flow with our mood and it was fantastic. It was a life lesson from her to me and I’m so grateful for her wisdom.
Have an unchartered day!
Seventeen is a special footnote in one’s life; not a child, not quite an adult, but something very magical in between. The friends you have around this age will know you in a way no one else will. If you are lucky, you will keep in touch with those friends. You will need them throughout your life to remind you of who you really are.
If given the chance, I would not go back to this age. I didn’t want to be seventeen again. I wanted to feel alive again.
Mind yourself,
Tracey
Coming soon: Cosmo & Stella
(My kitties, who may be two of the greatest teachers in my life!)