I was always taught as a little girl that you do not put your arms out the window while driving down the road. As we were on our way out to my parents house yesterday, I was challenged to stop reacting out of fear. I believe we sometimes are so impulsive to first fear something that we loose any freedom in what the experience would give us.
So after the usual response to say, " Kids pull your arms inside!" I stopped.I looked back and saw the look of pure enjoyment on Awan's face. She was free. Here I was trying to put a rule on freedom. Something that allows us to feel the wind and experience a sense of "free"!
I had to fight with my always taught mind, that said, " She could loose an arm." "A car or truck might sweep past and take her arm right off." Well, that was what I have always been told. The funny thing that I am realizing that in lots of day to day things, we have place unnecessary rules. These rules are to protect us from once in a blue mood odds, that a car would actually get close enough to taking off her arm. Plus if it was that close anyway there would be more damage than that done. I think what ends up happening is we fear the improbable, and in return rob ourselves of freedom. I am learning to stop making rules out of fear, to allow myself and my kids, to experience the freedom that simply putting you arms out of the car window can provide. We need to allow ourselves to quit making these rules our of fear, they bind us and keep us from really living free.
Awan and Zadyn had the best time driving. Windows down, hair blowing, and arms in the air. They both were singing..." I believe I can fly..." I think we get to a point where we let our common sense become a default to fear and our responsibility only to protect. I think we end up telling ourselves and our kids we can't fly with freedom.
Are you flying with freedom, or grounded in fear?
