Living well on a shoestring

A school playground across the road from my house has a set of swings in the far corner. It’s now school holidays and yesterday while outside, I noticed a child on the swings. Dressed in shorts and T-shirt and with their back to me, I wasn’t really sure whether I was watching a boy or a girl. Whoever it was, their swinging was rhythmic and smooth. In perfect motion they swung backwards and forwards reaching the height of the swing’s top bar. This child displayed supreme confidence in swinging; with straight legs they pushed strongly downwards on the forward swing to be able to soar to a great height then with bent legs and feet tucked behind they used their momentum to swing backwards to the same height reached going forwards. It was beautiful to watch.

Looking across the distance to the swings, no-where could I see an adult which didn’t mean there wasn’t one nearby. In fact with the same energy level and style the child kept swinging for more than an hour. What freedom! If an adult had accompanied the child, they were not issuing commands to come along or hurry up. Instead I got the sense that this child was totally unimpeded by anyone else’s needs or agenda. I witnessed a wonderful expression of absolute freedom, this child was having the best time. And it cost nothing. No need to spend money on entertainment, swings are free. It reminded me of how much pleasure I had on the swings when a child, remembering how I raced for the swings whenever we went to a park or playground. We shouldn’t forget how much fun there can be in simple pleasures that are free.