Hold Nothing Back: This One Goes Out to the Mama Artist

Picture a kid launching herself off the concrete lip of the clear blue stillness and “SPLASH!” Everything and everyone within ten feet gets baptized with cool wetness. The balm to the heat is diving. The child who jumped in feels the rush of being immediately immersed in a covering of weightlessness, a suspension of time and wonder. I used to be that kid. I spent hours diving off the community pool diving board again and again and again. To touch the bottom was the goal. And I got there many times. My son measures my presence with him in the pool by whether or not I get my hair wet. If I go completely under, I’m “in the pool.” If I sit on my floatie and only get below my shoulders wet, then I’m not really there.

Whether her form is good or not, an artist can do nothing less than dive in. Sitting on the side of the pool is not an option. Floating on the surface feels quite relaxing, but it’s definitely not swimming.

The other day I finally jumped in the water with a big “whoohoo!” It felt like a wave of wonder.

Mama artists do not possess an endless supply of time. But we can dive in fully, hair wet and all,  with the minutes we have. Hold nothing back.