Withouth doubt, it is the simplest of things in life that give me the greatest pleasure. Added to that, I love things ad hoc. Spontaneous decisions are the spice of life. Who wants to wake up every day knowing exactly what they’re going to do and when? That kind of predictability is actually so uninspiring.
So it was that this morning I went with my younger two sons to the Kent Downs, an area of outstanding natural beauty. It didn’t disappoint despite the clouds hiding the sun away and hanging over us like a huge grey diaphanous sheet above. Yet the views across the hills were still stunning. What’s more, the absolute peace around us for miles was mesmerising. The only thing which punctuated it every now and then was the gentle cry of a bird or the sussuration of the leaves. No man-made interruptions dared to steal our focus away from what was around us. It was a day of a heightened use of our senses in the natural world – a feast of sights, sounds and earthly smell.
I have often thought how these kind of impromptu days out are things I cherish even more now whilst my health still allows. I am so acutely aware that anything may occur in my life (other than death itself) that will prevent me from doing physical activity of this kind. That’s why, today, I also made it a point to fulfill a long ambition I’ve held for years – to run through a green field in the countryside and let all my stresses dissipate in the process. And it was everything I imagined it to feel like. Just a few minutes or pure abandon, freedom and joy. Not a single soul was around us as the three of us ran as far as we could. I felt the Earth was all mine. Time had no relevance. The future and past simultaneously evaporated and all that was left was the present. Time had taken leave to allow me to indulge in that moment of bliss…
I would happily relive that feeling again and again and hope I will and can. It was such a wonderful connection to Mother Nature.
I’ve learnt late in life that Allah has put possessions in our control that we need to use – and use wisely – to do good either for our physical wellbeing and/or spiritual wellbeing too. Although I do make preparations for a rainy day, I’ve also realised that there is a danger in losing the present in the process. That’s why I no longer calculate certain decisions too much. It’s important to be able to be spontaneous if we are to enjoy life too. And I don’t feel guilty about ‘enjoying life’ since it is rooted in gratitude. I regard myself as quite balanced in the decisions I make which is largely why I’ve managed to get through some difficult times, Alhamdulillah.
The truth is, words such as ‘impromptu’, ‘spontaneous’ and ‘carefree’ should never be only in the vocabulary of young people. They should belong to all. For myself, I will lay claim to these words because I have finally put myself in the front of the queue for all the wonderful things that life has to offer and will not hang around waiting for and watching others take their share and be done. For me, the best years are now and I will do my best to expand the realm I am in now by making every day count, inshaAllah.
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