Behind the Wiper

I kind of hope it doesn’t rain anytime soon because there’s a leaf stuck behind the left windshield wiper on my van.

I want it to stay because it reminds me of the changing season(s) and resilience, which are more metaphors for my life right now. I realize I’ve been writing in metaphors a lot lately. But big life changes are super metaphorical. I could go on about a butterfly coming out of its cocoon or a phoenix rising from the ashes.  I could talk about sunrises and sunsets, which are both currently happening in my life in a metaphorical sense. But instead, I decide to talk about this leaf.

This leaf it unique. It’s not like any other leaf on the planet. Different shape, different colors, different place. This leaf has been behind my wiper for days, journeying all around town with me, “seeing” all kinds of things and enduring slow speeds as well as fast. Yep, sounds like me and my life again.

And it’s tough, this leaf. It doesn’t disintegrate or “leave” it’s post (sorry, couldn’t help the pun). Every time I get in my van since it has been there, it speaks to me, saying, “Don’t give up” and “Hold on.” These are things I am doing, pretty much every day.

 

I recently attended a luncheon here in Lafayette that honored local women in business for their achievements. One of the women who received an award and had a chance to speak that day, spoke about “stretching” and how as women, especially in business, we must stretch. She spoke about how she had to “stretch” since she has a career in an industry that is dominated by men. I was impressed by her words and during one of her stories she told us how she wormed her way into the male-only company fishing trip. (oh shoot, another pun)

So… stretching. That leaf is “stretching”. It’s supposed to be on a tree or on the forest floor or being blown about by the wind. Instead, it chooses to stay put. Or maybe it feels stuck and wishes it was free. Whatever the case, it is having to do something out of the norm.

(this is where I inform y’all that the metaphor continues and continues however, yes, I do know that the leaf does not have a brain or feelings. LOL)

So let’s explore the possibility of “being stuck”. I think this is the best one. Again, that leaf probably would not want to be there if it wasn’t wedged between the wiper and the windshield. A rock and a hard place, so to speak. We all know that saying. So this is how my marriage was toward the end; I felt stuck. Like I could not leave because of the children and the fact that I had no job. But was I really stuck? Yes and no. Stuck because I wasn’t ready to exit my comfort zone, even though it was actually quite UNcomfortable. Not stuck because guess what? As I’ve proved in the last many months, I am strong enough to carry on and to move on.

That leaf only gets one chance on this earth. Its existence here is short in comparison to many things, much like mine. I presume that leaf wants to be as happy as it can during the time given.

I hope to never find myself “stuck” again. I want to live this life the most fulfilling way I possibly can, loving others and enjoying the time I am given.

I think tomorrow I will set the leaf free.

It’s time.