Let's (Not) Go Fly a Kite

I've finally figured out why I don't like flying kites, even though I really, really want to:

I prefer to be in motion.

Seems like a 'duh'! I feel like, if I told Kris this, he'd say "Yeah? . . ." Like, why is this surprising?!

It's felt a bit surprising to me for the last ten years, the time after which I bought myself a kite for my 30th birthday, thinking for sure it would be such a great way to slow down, be outside and appreciate the clouds. However, in this ten years, every time I've thought "Hey, maybe I should fly that kite!," I haven't.

While the answer to why - I prefer to be in motion - feels obvious now that I've zero'd in on it, it's perhaps this obviousness that offers a reminder that seemingly simple lessons often must be learned over and over again. In this instance, the main lesson for me is that simplicity seems to always win if you let it. In this case, I mean that my preference for motion makes me prefer a walk to flying a kite, no matter how many times I try to convince myself that 'flying a kite would be good for me.' I get the same benefits from going on a walk that I would from flying a kite, and I get to be in motion.

It's been a pretty powerful thing, as I've gotten older, to feel my preferences distill down and further clarify. 

This is not to say that I wish for the very opposite end of this spectrum - to become stuck in these distilled ways. Much to the contrary, I have worked pretty intentionally in the last couple years, and especially during this past year - my first learning how to navigate life with two children rather than just one - to be a more adaptable person. This is to say that I've found understanding your preferences, in tandem with being adaptable, to be a pretty powerful combination when it comes to navigating life. I try to infuse this powerful combination with kindness (toward myself and others) and intentionality when it stands up to greet the equally powerful forces of differing expectations, viewpoints and needs.

So, as much as I used to wish I wanted to, I think when the urge hits and situation allows for me to get outside, get reflective and appreciate the clouds, it's ok for me to not go fly a kite. I think I'll keep going on walks instead :)