An Infinite Expectation of the Dawn
We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn.
-Henry David Thoreau
-Henry David Thoreau
Danielle Ramsey's baby is due and as I was adding a photo of her to my blog, I thought about the power of expectation. Aside from a burgeoning belly, every woman in my Prenatal Yoga classes keeps a constant focus on her due date and the birth of her child. It even serves as a name tag and conversation starter: "I'm due in October", "When are you due?", "I'm not due until August", etc.
They may have some physical complaints, it's true, but they don't identify with them. Low back pain, nausea and sleep deprivation are just part of the trip. These women come to class expecting a happy ending within a matter of months and that's what they get.
What are the implications here for us non-gestating human beings? What if we chose to create something within the next nine months, could we hold on to our excitement and anticipation during all that time? What would we have to do in order for our creation/project to rapidly grow and evolve on a daily basis? We would have to expect it to happen, and therein lies the challenge.
The reproduction of another human being is something so miraculous yet we don't doubt that it will happen. But move an adult human being from point A to point B? Learn to speak another language? Change jobs? Lose 20 pounds? Clean out the garage? Do a headstand? Oh, that might not ever happen.
I feel so privileged to witness this march of strong women with joyous expectations file past me, month in and month out. There's something from that magical parade that needs to be extracted, bottled and injected into the rest of the human race. Expect it.
They may have some physical complaints, it's true, but they don't identify with them. Low back pain, nausea and sleep deprivation are just part of the trip. These women come to class expecting a happy ending within a matter of months and that's what they get.
What are the implications here for us non-gestating human beings? What if we chose to create something within the next nine months, could we hold on to our excitement and anticipation during all that time? What would we have to do in order for our creation/project to rapidly grow and evolve on a daily basis? We would have to expect it to happen, and therein lies the challenge.
The reproduction of another human being is something so miraculous yet we don't doubt that it will happen. But move an adult human being from point A to point B? Learn to speak another language? Change jobs? Lose 20 pounds? Clean out the garage? Do a headstand? Oh, that might not ever happen.
I feel so privileged to witness this march of strong women with joyous expectations file past me, month in and month out. There's something from that magical parade that needs to be extracted, bottled and injected into the rest of the human race. Expect it.
Photo: Waimanu Sunrise by konaboy
This is beautiful. It really made me think. I am learning patience and peace through this waiting game. It is true that it is not like waiting for anything I have ever waited for before..the closest I can think if is highschool graduation, because you know your life will chance drastically afterwards, everyone tells you so, everyone has an idea of what you should be doing to prepare or wants to know your plans. Everyone wishes you the best of luck! I graduated 9 years ago, but that still feels like the closest feeling, one big difference, Graduation dates don't change! Its not like..."any moment now I could begin to graduate..we dont know how long it will take..but it will happen..and in the next two weeks! Ayden is officially 3 days late today. I am at peace with it, though it is a strange feeling.
Posted by:Dani | March 12, 2008 at 03:43 PM
Thank you,Dani,for checking in. I'm really thinking of ways to relate the birth process to creating other miracles in our lives because, look at you: three days late but you have no doubt that Ayden will be born any day now. I want to bottle that sense of certainty!
Call me when he arrives, okay?
Posted by:Barbara | March 12, 2008 at 04:15 PM