Sunday, April 6, 2014

Roots.

Roots. Defined as the "part of a plant that attaches it to the ground or to a support...conveying water and nourishment to the rest of the plant". I like this definition, because when I think of being rooted I think of being supported, and that support gives me nourishment and I feel refreshed. It's also defined as "the basic cause, source, or origin of something". Being back at my parents' house, I feel like this has been a great source of support and renewal in this crazy time in my twenties. I'm SO thankful for it.

Today has been a grounding day. I've gotten to hang out with my mom, sister and sister-in-law, then chat with our neighbors in the driveway. I can't even tell you how long it's been since I've just stood in the driveway talking to the people that live around us. And that used to happen all the time it felt like! We reminisced about old neighbors, speculated about new neighbors, and sat with the memories of growing up. It felt like the reel of life in our neighborhood was playing before my eyes as I looked around at the familiar houses; scooter and bike races down the cul-de-sac driveways, the nights of playing hide-and-seek tag in the dark, the day that there was a huge rainstorm and the fire hydrant across the street exploded into a fantastic fountain that we played in for hours. Sleepovers. Bus rides. Secret clubs that were never really a secret. Roots.

It's nice to be reminded of where you came from. It's easy for me to think of the day to day and feel really...surface. Like all I am is what I'm doing that day. But then I have conversations and I sit with people who have seen me run the spectrum of emotions and experience, and I remember that I am much more than what I have or what I'm doing at that time in life. I am made up of a multitude of experiences, characteristics of people I've met, and awesome interests and idiosyncrasies. I feel whole.