Living in the Rainbow and Avoiding Spiderwebs

A friend recently said, "I used to think everything was black and white, all or nothing, but now I see almost everything is grey, and I live in the grey." I had heard that before, but I really appreciated the reminder in today's polarized world. However, the next friend said something that completely changed my perspective. "I used to think that until I realized there is an entire rainbow of colors between black and white. Today, I want to live, explore, and play in the entire rainbow."

In that moment, I realized that I needed to open my eyes and perception to living in the rainbow, which means I need to look at the world and the people in it with new eyes, without judgment, so that I can connect to all of this in the most authentic way possible. Changing old ideas and views that I have held for 58 years is challenging, but the reward is limitless when I live with a new perspective.

Another lesson I learned recently is about spiderwebs. In the wilderness area behind my son's high school, I have the pleasure of hiking after dropping him off every morning. It has been such a pleasure to "forest bathe" every day and to receive the spiritual nourishment and healing that nature provides. Most days, I see deer, which triggers a magical moment, feeling like being in the presence of fairies. I need to get very quiet and still, so they don’t run away. If I can do this, I get to feel and become one with nature.

One day, I saw a turtle crossing the trail and a river otter swimming in a little tributary, but the main lesson I learned was that my 6' 4" body runs into spider webs on this trail, especially early in the morning. I was blindly walking into these beautiful webs, and I had difficulty getting them off my head since the golden orb spider spent all night making them. My first solution was to wear a hat, but then it was hard to get the webs off the hat. Then, another solution was a walking stick, holding it a few inches above my head, obliterating the webs. But one bright morn, as the dew clung to every fiber of each web, I could see them. Suddenly, I was able to abandon the hat and the stick, and slightly adjust to avoid them.

As I successfully navigated the webs, I thought about how I usually walk through life. Instead of bringing my awareness and adjusting to situations, I often avoid or bulldoze people and situations. But now, rather than stumbling blindly down the trails and trials of life, I may be able to bring a new mindfulness. As long as I stay in the moment, paying attention to life's webs, I can walk in the rainbow of life.