Collecting Hellos

As I have tried to become more Hands Free, I have been able to leave more things undone, and limit the things that take time away from what really matters. Coincidentally, this has allowed me to feel less rushed during the day, scrambling to barely make it promptly from one activity to the next.

Instead of racing to make it on time to pick up my four-year-old daughter from preschool, I find myself first in car line…with time to spare. Furthermore, I don’t use that time to catch up on emails on my Blackberry or check Facebook.  I use that time to listen to music and get lost in my thoughts. I delight in the way the refreshing outside air perks me up better than caffeine and breathes life into my stale car and constricted lungs.

And then I watch the door. Because regardless of the day’s weather forecast, I know sunshine comes through the door at exactly 12:45 p.m.

Before I became Hands Free I never noticed that when my daughter comes out the door, her eyes search for me.  I never noticed that when she spots me, her eyes melt into tiny slivers that seem to merge with the corners of her mouth into the most beautiful smile. I never noticed how she vigorously waves her chubby little hand as if she is waving to Mickey Mouse himself. I never noticed how her big girl backpack covers two thirds of her tiny frame and how it bounces up and down as she is walking on air to meet me.  I never noticed that someone could be this happy simply to see me.  But now I do. Thank God, now I do.

This is a precious, beautiful, and miraculous hello given only to me. And I can witness this miracle every day at 12:45 p.m.

I have decided to start collecting hellos.  For we all know that one day, far sooner than we ever want to admit, we will have to say good-bye.

But I am comforted knowing that each hello I grasp and hold tenderly next to my heart will serve as a cushion that will someday soften the pain of the goodbye.

When is the last time you prepared yourself to experience a miraculous hello? Get there early.  Watch the door.  Watch the face of the one who greets you.  Get ready for sunshine. And then shine back. Baby, shine back.  And then add it to your collection.

The Collecting Hellos by Hands Free Mama, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.