Thursday, April 21, 2011

Front Porch Moments

Well, I deleted my facebook...yes, I did.

I have no regrets.

Deactivated...

De cluttered...

I wasn't even sad!

Is that weird?

Am I a social outcast?

Who cares!

Bring it on!


"Crowded Loneliness"

A phrase that stuck in my head today.

A phrase that kind of stings.

A phrase I get.

I am surrounded by people.

Friends

Strangers

Family

But I have to admit there are days when I wonder...

Who would I call if things were hard with my man, my kids, my parents, MYSELF for goodness sake?

Who could I call to say, "I really screwed up today," without fearing judgement, rejection, or worse yet, that uncomfortable look in their eyes that says I shared too much, went a little too far? That look that says, "Let's be real, but...not that real."

I woke up with that question this morning, so...

I slowed down.

I looked.

And I found that there are...

People who will stop and say hi

People who want to talk

People who want to hear my junk

People who want to hear my rejoicing

People who will cry and laugh with me when it hurts

People who will cry and laugh with me when I am too overwhelmed with joy and no words will express it.

Wow!

That is simply...

Amazing

Breathtaking

I have been thinking about front porches today and what they represented years ago...

Relaxation

Community

Friendship

Peace

Fellowship

Can you hear the kids laughing and the dogs barking?

Can you feel the warm summer breeze that smells like fresh cut grass?

Wouldn't it be amazing to...

Take a walk in the evening?

See people sitting outside with the love of their life next to them?

Pass someone getting a little fresh air?

Notice someone playing with their kids?

Wouldn't it be nice if we were all a little less isolated?

Maybe it could be that way again if we slowed down.

Maybe it is time for a change.

Maybe I will sit on my front porch, take more walks, blow bubbles and watch my boys innocently chase them.

Maybe someone will walk by

and we can talk

face-to-face

simple conversation

or deep

Whatever...

Nothing planned

Just real

That sounds so amazing to me.

About a week ago, a friend of Steve's and mine dropped by to give us a hug. Maybe that is what started the ball rolling again in my head.

I loved it.

It felt so real to me.

I wasn't worried that I was still in my PJ pants or that my house wasn't perfect.

I was simply amazed that we were on his mind, and he acted on it.

I want to act on those feelings more.


Tonight I don't feel "crowded loneliness."

Here is to more front-porch moments.

I am starving for them.

See you Facebook.

I want the real deal!

3 comments:

Unknown said...

Awesome Shellie! Yeah, front porch moments... love it! I'm so glad you're blogging again! You have such a beautiful heart!

Arlene said...

Isn't it a shame that children can't run freely through the neighborhood, playing hid and seek or kick the can until their parents call them in at bedtime?

Unknown said...

I LOVED THIS SHELLIE!!!!!! YAHOO!!!! I am so sorry it took me so long to get back to this blog. I have not been looking at people's blogs for awhile now but now that I've started back writing I am again. I just love the way you write from such profound purity of heart. Can I just say this? I LOVE YOUR HEART! I am so glad we got to talk on the phone last week and share. You are such a beautiful person, inside and out. I am so glad we met on "the porch" some years ago! How perfect! I look so forward to more time with you. I think this summer we are going ot have to do it. Breakout of our comfort zones a bit more, even like you said if we're in our jammies and our house is a wreck-challenging for me admittedly. That or we can take soem evening walks! (even runs) :) I think you are awesome for deleting FB! You go girl! You are so right and I am so with you. See you FACEBOOK. I WANT THE REAL, TOO!!! Keep writing. I want to hear MORE!!!
Love you. xoxo