Today, I had the distinct pleasure of sitting on a hand-stitched quilt on the bank of the Tennessee River. While our meal consisted of Taco Bell crunch wraps, not a basket filled to the brim with fried chicken, potato salad and tea, it was a beautiful situation, nonetheless. We sat under a huge shade tree, talked and listened to good music while we watched the lazy waters ebb and flow in front of us. It was perfect. In that short period of time, there were no emails to answer, no deadlines to fuss over and no school work to be done. It was just us, enjoying our time together.
I've had picnics on the carpeted floors of a friend's living room, where the carpet doubles as a picnic blanket. I've had picnics in old cemeteries, where the locals aren't much for conversation. I've had picnics in truck beds and in beautiful parks, with nothing above me but the open sky. And, you know what? They are some of life's most precious and wonderful feasts, no matter the location. Think about it; you get to pick a place, any place you want to go, and share a meal with someone. There are no rules, except having fun. You don't have to use napkins or fine dinnerware. You can sit cross-legged and relaxed. How magical is that?
But, let's face it; sometimes, despite life's magic, it gets tough. Things don't always go as you plan them. You get stressed, you get stuck in a rut or you just get plain bored. Picnics give us a break and more time to live life. We are allowed a new perspective away from the typical dinner table that seems to be the norm. As human beings, we need that escape from the hustle and bustle of our everyday agenda to sit and enjoy some good food, good company and to simply embark on a little adventure. That's exactly what we did today.
As I sat there on the shore, I had a few spare moments to reflect -- on the sunshine around me, the calming storms within me and how blessed I was to be at peace with where things were headed for the first time in quite a while. If I'm being completely honest, the world needs more days like I had today. I'm not trying to brag. I'm simply stating facts. Maybe this is what you need, too.
If you ask me, the world needs more innocent laughter, like the laughs that were shared today. We need more honest conversations, like the words that were spoken today. The world needs more sunshine, like the warmth I felt on my face today. We need more of the good and the pure, and less of the bad and the evil. Life isn't always a walk in the park. That's why we need more picnics.
