ElleSpeak

We are all cups, constantly and quietly being filled. The trick is, knowing how to tip ourselves over and let the beautiful stuff out. Ray Bradbury

I recently discovered this saying by Ray Bradbury and it reminds me of something I wrote a few years ago. It perfectly describes the feeling in my heart when it’s so full of joy and love it can’t help but be spilled, only to be soaked up by the hearts of others, creating a profound sense of connection.

That feeling visits me sometimes when I’m sharing something I love, like when I teach a Yoga class or at other times when I least expect them, like when I was serving breakfast to a group of Red Hat women in the independent senior community where I once lived and worked..

My apartment and attached office was in a well-kept building of just over 100 apartments, and I had the pleasure (as well as the headaches from time to time) of working with older adults in a number of ways, including planning and serving at fun-filled events.

The first Friday of every month we hosted a ladies’ Red Hat Society breakfast. One month we enjoyed a high tea with a harpist and a poetry reading. The next month we had a “wacky fashion show” where we wore our brassieres on the outside of our clothes, and tea length skirts with tea bags pinned to the fabric.

On this particular morning I woke up and put on my pajamas to go to work. Today was Red Hat Pajama Breakfast! I rolled a few curlers in my hair, grabbed my mug, tied the belt of my over-sized, bright pink robe embroidered with big bright tea cups, put on my boots and walked through the quietly falling snow to building #1 where the Red Hat Society met for breakfast.

When I arrived to help serve breakfast to 30 Red Hat ladies they were all dressed in various styles of pajamas. Some of them were chic, some were funny, and some were just plain, old, and comfortable. After breakfast I was asked to read the poem “When I am an old woman I shall wear purple”.

Normally I love reading aloud, especially poems, but as I began reading I found my emotions swelling up inside my chest and the more I fought them the stronger they became, causing my voice to crack, and my eyes to leak. As I struggled on toward the end of the poem I sneaked a peek at the women around me and saw there were many whose eyes were leaking too.

When I finished reading we all looked at each other and began to laugh at ourselves, sitting around with uncombed hair, wearing crazy pajamas, and lettin’ a whole lot of love just roll down our cheeks.

After the poem the ladies were invited to stand up, walk around and model their pajamas, while I made fashion commentary. These women took turns prancing, dancing, swaying, strutting, swiveling, giggling and jiggling around the room while I struggled to find words to describe their pajamas, hats, feather boas, slippers, and each lady’s own personal je ne sais quoi.

They were beautiful, funny, crazy, and each one unique. We were all sharing a wonderful morning eating, laughing, crying and living life together in Building #1.

That day I was a giant pitcher of love being endlessly filled and spilled.

That day I asked myself…..how lucky am I?

I ask you…..What fills your cup and how do you tip it over to let the beautiful stuff out?