Unruly
Photo credit: Joanna McDonald
Purposefully unruly. Wild abandon. Feels willful, don’t you think? Playful with a plan. Freedom with a destination in mind. That feeling you have when you pull on jeans that have the holes in them that were there when purchased. Looks just right. Or the long hair that gets put up in a “messy bun” that actually took two months to perfect. It’s an intentional laziness, an organized chaos, a sensible silliness. It’s perfection in its perfectly imperfect way.
Have we just described Summer?
Summer…that time of year that lays itself out before us just beckoning to be spent. As a kid I spent long hot days at the creek. Left home in the morning, dove into the water when it was still cold enough to give you an instant headache; and walked home late in the afternoon, exhausted, sunburned, starving, and so happy. It was on purpose. It was unruly.
As a young mother I would plan the playground, pool, and camping outings as much for my kids as myself. The place and time were planned, the fun and adventure were up to Summer.
Summer is a time for taking your hands off the wheel, or at least loosening your grip. I know someone has to pay the water bill, but wouldn’t you at least like to feel the way that kid does skipping through the sprinkler? Carefree. Wet, wild, and wonderfully unruly.
Purposeful unruliness can be about how someone or something makes you feel just as much as it can be about actions. Feeling unruly can be uncomfortable if you are used to controlling your feelings. Keeping your feelings in check by having control over chaos, control over reactions, and control over surprises, is BORING. You don’t have to go hog wild and throw your hands in the air and all caution to the wind; but wouldn’t it be nice to not plan everything to the nth degree this Summer?
How about not having a bedtime? What about going swimming at dusk on a random Tuesday evening? or ice cream for everyone INSTEAD of supper? Waterpark instead of church? Planting more petunias instead of peppers? or heaven forbid you get as unruly as reading a book on your couch that is only to be read on a beach? Do the unthinkable and RELAX.
Remember when just the mere mention of Summer automatically meant vacation? It doesn’t mean you are going anywhere, that you aren’t working. Maybe it can mean that you be a bit more intentional with being a little less strict with your schedule, your diet, your rules, maybe you can even be purposefully unruly.
Happy Summer!
As Caroline pulled into the White’s driveway she noticed flowers along the front walk that she hadn’t noticed before. There were bushel baskets full of flowers every few feet. They were vivid and wild and breathtaking. She stopped her car in front of the largest basket and got out to have a closer look.
Remi watched Caroline from the front window. She looked like a young girl leaning down to smell pretty flowers. The look of sheer bliss on her face made him long to be what she was looking at.
As Caroline straightened up and turned to go back to her car for her gear, she felt like someone was watching her. She looked toward the front door. Remi was leaning on a porch railing looking in her direction. “Hi.” Caroline waved at him.
“I have been watching you enjoy the posies.” Remi said as he came down the walk.
“These are fabulous.” Caroline said. “Did you plant them?” She asked as she leaned into her car to get the supplies she had brought with her.
“Here, let me help you with that.” Remi said, stepping forward to take a bag from her arms. “And, yes I planted the flowers. I enjoy color so I like to plant as much of it as possible. If I can control the beauty around me, then why wouldn’t I?” He said with a smile.
“I love that.” Caroline said as she walked beside him up the walk. “These are definitely pots planted with abandon. How beautiful purposeful unruliness can be.”
Remi stopped. “Do you mind if I use that? Purposeful unruliness. I like that for the name of a painting I’m working on.”
—- Passage from Dead to Me (She Used to Be Mine) by: Kay Aspen
