Day 160 ~ Left Holding the Bag

June 9, 2014      

My instead: My grandchildren and I picked up trash at the park BEFORE we played. 

I had a lot of work planned for the whole day and into the evening, but best laid plans often go astray, right? When my daughter-in-law Shaundra called and asked if I could watch the kids in the late afternoon, I said yes. What can I say…flexibility is the best part my job!

Since the day was overcast and mild, it was perfect for an outing to the fish park. A few days earlier, I had taken the kids there and had noticed litter lying around. Unfortunately, there was no trash can in sight to dispose of it. Today I would be prepared with some bags for the litter.  

Work before play was the order of the day. I told my granddaughter Abbey that we would be picking up litter before we played at the park. She was cool with that because she knew that litter was bad. 

Abbey, my grandson Andy and I arrived at the fish park with our Wal-Mart bags ready to clean up! Andy is two. Need I say more? His attention to the task at hand was waning. After all, we were at the fish park and he wanted to play! Abbey, however, was on a mission. It was like hunting Easter eggs. She loved the challenge and did not have to be “egged” on to continue.

This was one of our best days at the park EVER. It was almost magical how we were in sync with one another. I attribute it all to the BALANCE: we worked and then we played. Doesn’t it always feel better when we accomplish something before we play or relax? It’s kind of like eating when you’re hungry. Isn’t that much more pleasurable than when you’re full? 

Again, the yin and the yang.