The Magic of What Is

by Richard Reeve on September 22, 2008

in Sand Box

The Sand Box

OK, sometimes I need to come clean and admit I struggle to let go of the reigns.  Yesterday my son, father in-law, and I traveled to Tractor Day over in Honesdale, Pa.  Driving into the fairgrounds I could see that the place was deserted, compounding the resistance I developed even before getting into the car.  What were we doing here? 

My grandiose self pity soon dissipated following the trail my son wove through the 100 or so tractors.  It became clear that he had no awareness of the lack of audience.  The thought never crossed his mind.   At one display a farmer and his son had rigged up old tractor engines and belts to operate corn husking, kernaling and feed grinding machinery.  My son’s fascination led him right under the rope stanchions till he too was feeding ears of corn into the mouth of these machines.  

   
His approach to the show was contagious.  Soon I found myself able to let go of any expectations and discover what the situation had to offer.  I try to challenge myself to look at similar situations “as if” they were a dream.  Then the whole thing shifts.  Wow! this huge tractor fair and we are the only ones there! I was off and running.  For me it was a riff on branding and marketing of the farm tools through the last century.  My son found his delight spending nearly an hour with two goats in a small petting area. 

Opening to the magic of what is.  Taking off the shackles of any poor attitude.  Living life.  Lately it seems that when I’m learning from my son, I’m getting a little bit closer to what this parenting thing is all about…  

 

(Really, I haven’t been kidding here, that’s my son in the far corner of the grandstands during the awards ceremony.)

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  • kalalea
    So cool that they put on a tractor show just for your family and your son helped you enjoy it though his eyes. Priceless moments
  • Your sense of wonder at it all is nicely captured through your observations of your son. I wish the two of you many happy adventures!
  • Juliann Grant
    Thanks for the post, it is wonderful to see things through a different perspective - one of a child. It's true that we place our own expectations of what an event should be, or rather, what it was in our own childhood experiences. I went to a small town craft fair a few weeks back, and felt bad for those who had tents up, tables set with their wares, and virtually no people. On the flip side, I had some of the best conversations with people at those tents and learned about their unique items.

    It's all about how we set our expectations. I'm discovering that having no expectations makes it easier all around because I'm usually pleasantly surprised and I'm not forced to measure things up all the time. The key for me is to appreciate the joy of what is - as you did at the tractor event and be pleasantly surprised as you were.

    To more moments of finding joy in the simple things... Thanks Richard.
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