Finding Forty, Day 88; Warmth

I've been reading The Tao of Inner Peace.   It's a beautiful book that speaks to me, but it is slow reading.  I feel like I have to read each passage and then reread it again to make sure I fully absorb the true meaning of the words.    This isn't a chore for me though.  I am so enamored by the message, I am more than willing to take it in again and again and even again.

One of the principles of Taoism is to become one with nature, which always gives me pause.   I'm not what I would call an outdoorsy girl who loves animals and hiking for hours.

And yet, I do love nature.   I've been having a love affair with the sun all my life.    These days, we rendezvouz in the mornings.    As I drive to work, heading east, the sun is my beacon.   I love driving my sporty, little, non soccer mom car as fast as I can without attracting attention from the police while blaring my favorite tunes.   This little ritual is always likely to put me in a good mood (provided some sappy, ridiculous love song about broken hearts doesn't find its way onto my iPod shuffle).  

As I exit onto the neighboring freeway, with the sun rising ahead of me, I feel a surge of happiness, a surge of hope.   To veer right and take the "big" bridge would steer me towards S, but I remain steadfast and always make my way to work.

The sun shines for me.   I can hear her urging me, "Stay strong, my love, stay true.   My rays will warm you and you will be alright."

It sounds hokey as I type this, but I honesty do feel this way.  

This bliss lasts for less than 5 minutes, but the strength of it is strong enough to see me through, at least for the morning hours.

As the day drones on, admittedly, this celestial high burns away, but I can always anticipate tomorrow's view, tomorrow's hope, tomorrow's promise...the promise that I am loved, I am strong, and I will be just fine...even all alone.

These things warm me.