Unfolding

” I would love to live like a river flows, carried by the surprise of it’s own unfolding. ~ John O’ Donohue

Frank asked me when we would be done, when our workouts would switch to maintenance because we had reached the realistic limits of what his body could do. When do we get to point where this is as good as it gets and we try to hold that as long as we can? Frank was 76 so it seemed like a fair question. Except here’s the thing: over the past two years every time he had gotten a little stronger or a little more mobile then something new became possible.

Five push ups became ten. Good mornings became kettle bell swings, a slow plod down the line became lighter and lighter until it became flowing motion.

Those things are obvious and easy to count. But life is about movement and expression. So, the flowing motion had opened up the possibility of going dancing again. New found strength and balance made travel more enjoyable and adventurous. Each step forward revealed surprises and new possibilities for living and moving and expressing himself … in the world, not just the gym. As long as he was enjoying the unfolding then we would keep moving forward and exploring the next steps.

The wonderful thing about surprise is how it captures the imagination. If this is possible then what else? What else that I can’t see yet, might be just around the bend? Energy flows and life continues to unfold. When was the last time you were surprised by your own unfolding?