Write It Out: Instruction Video
” “I beg your pardon,” said the Mole, pulling himself together with effort. “You must think me very rude; but all this is so new to me. So – this – is – a – river!”
“The river,” corrected the Rat.
“And you really live by the river? What a jolly life!”
“By it and with it and on it and in it,” said the Rat. “It’s brother and sister to me, and aunts, and company, and food and drink, and (naturally) washing. It’s my world, and I don’t want any other. What it hasn’t got is not worth having, and what it doesn’t know is not worth knowing. Lord! The times we’ve had together! Whether in winter or summer, spring or autumn, it’s always got its fun and its excitements. When the floods are on in February, and my cellars and basement are brimming with drink that’s no good to me, and the brown water runs by my best bedroom window; or again when it all drops away and shows patches of mud that smell like plum-cake, and the rushes and weed clog the channels, and I can potter about dry shod over most of the bed of it and find fresh food to eat, and things careless people have dropped out of boats!”
“But isn’t it a bit dull at times?” the Mole ventured to ask. “Just you and the river, and no one else to pass a word with?”
“No one else to – Well, I mustn’t be hard on you,” said the Rat with forbearance. “You’re new to it, and of course you don’t know.”
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Scene Starts with Person Making a U-Turn, Ends with a Flock of Birds Taking Off – MEC 2017
She moved into the fast lane on the highway. There was no-one behind her when she checked her mirrors and, she thought briefly, that’s another sign. Signaling left, she moved her car into the exit, and then into the short strip between the southbound and northbound lanes. Coming to a full stop, she took a deep breath and checked in with her body. The tension she had felt was dissipating. Her shoulders were starting to relax. Her stomach was settling, her mind was growing calm and more quiet. Taking one last check for traffic (an errant motorcycle perhaps) and finding none, (which she again took as a sign but really was not so odd for this quiet time of the morning), she slowly turned, eased the car into the northbound lanes, and accelerated.
The sky on her right was lightening up, the clouds were just beginning to reflect the bits of sunlight that had not yet appeared over the horizon. She cruised along, tears streaming down her face now, tears of relief. Tears of a decision finally made, of peace and of acceptance. She was enough, she was here.
Her exit was coming up just beyond the lake. As the first rays of light came up like fingers reaching across the landscape, a movement caught her eyes. From the lake, a flock of Canada Geese lifted, honking, forming a big V for their flight home. V – her one last sign – V for victory.
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Perspective is everything, isn’t it! What might seem dull and boring to one person, might be bright and relaxing to another. Maybe it depends upon your frame of mind. Maybe it depends upon your past experience. But, perspective can help us to have empathy towards others. What do you think? Share your thoughts below!
