I took this photo of my two youngest sons last July. The setting sun was just perfect, they were playing and having lots and lots of fun in the warmth of a summer evening. It is possible to feel the smiles of joy on their faces (even though in shadow) as they raised hands in the sheer joy of the moment.

Feeling joy — even though it is in the shadows.

“The truly intuitive person listens to what isn’t said.”

Tonight Lloyd got home from his swim meet and we spent a lot of time just chatting and he pulled up a song on You Tube he wanted to share. He talked about school, and that he dropped a second off one of his swimming events, he carried his little brothers into their bed, since they fell asleep on the couch, he played with the cat, had a snack and then gave me several hugs before going to bed.

He needed this time. He had been sick the past couple of days and yesterday stayed home from school because of the illness. Both this morning and when he got home from school today he was incredibly grumpy. The living-room hang out showing me silly cat tricks and such was a way for him to regroup with me, the teen age version of “I’m sorry I was a total grump and pain earlier.”

The little ones needed time earlier this evening. When I got home from teaching QiQong this evening they both told me that they were not tired. What they really meant was “Mom, you have been running around too much and we are feeling it.” So, I remembered that the ‘work’ would still be there and sat on the couch with them, listening to some soothing music for 45 minutes as they snuggled and eventually fell asleep.

These two experiences tonight coupled with the finding of the summer sunset photo reminded me of the quote that was just shared with me yesterday. It would have been very easy for me in both instances to yell at the little ones to go to bed and to just keep working when Lloyd got home. It would have been very easy to just not take the time. In fact, truth be told, I did mentally redirect myself in each case. Those moments with my children, the moments I remember to ask a friend the questions maybe someone else is afraid to ask, the times I take the leap … those were the most important not only for them, but for me as well.

“The truly intuitive person listens to what isn’t said.” – Doug Snyder

 Is it intuition that reminded me what each of my children needed this evening?

Or is it the practice of being present to what is going on around all of my personal activity?

Perhaps a little of both.

Just for today take time to listen with your heart.
Just for today be present for others as well as yourself.
Just for today allow the whispering voice inside of us help guide our way. 
Just for today …..
“Catch your magic moment
Do it right here and now
It means everything” – Van Halen

                Take some time with this song. It has been blaring in my head for almost a week. The lyrics make a lot of sense right here. Right Here, Right Now by Van Halen

Intuition