“We can easily forgive a child who is afraid of the dark; the real tragedy of life is when men are afraid of the light.” Plato
By: Gabriela Yareliz
As you may have read, yesterday I had a fun field trip outing. What you did not read was that it was complete with me not realizing there was a “press to exit” button in the office I visited, which led to me tapping and pushing on the glass wall like a mime. The receptionist will not soon forget me.
It was a day that reminded me how important it is to take our little pauses. Whether it’s to look for the “press to exit” no touch button on the side wall or to see how the sun falls in between the clouds. My mind went back to a spring day at the Elizabeth Street Garden, one of my favorite spots in the city. The light always comes through the trees just right.
My pauses, whether it’s from reading or working, often include chasing the light. What does this mean? I love seeing how the light falls on objects and on the wall. Sometimes, when the rain collects outside, I see squiggly reflections of the puddles lit on the wall; the tiny waves making my own soothing ocean of light inside. I call it chasing the light because light moves, fast. A pocket of glitter that you spot in one instance can quickly fade and disappear or move onto another surface. Shadows change color, moods soften, darkness settles. Darkness creeps, while light is too fast for us. It’s always in a hurry to its next kiss.
When I take a pause, the light I am chasing reminds me of all of our previous and familiar rendezvous. The times on the warm bench where I would roast horizontally before my next class in college; the light combing the blades of grass as I ran across the university lawn barefoot with smeared henna on my feet; the light on mismatched blankets; the light over a rolling green field; the light that shoots out of the top of the metallic buildings; and the soft light that divides tree friends like gossip. (Yes, trees become friends. If you don’t believe me, read The Hidden Life of Trees).
Light is stunning. I mean, the fact that it can paint the sky many different colors, all at once– it’s a breathtaking friend. Make sure to take your pauses. Chase the light. Live in the light. Be light.
