Effortless
I love this word as well as the images and feelings it conjures for me.
It is one thing to make it look effortless. Quite another for something to be effortless.
I have become very good at the balancing act of life. I am able to make it look pretty effortless, but it is actually a lot of work.
My dad decorates his house beautifully for Christmas. The presents are perfectly wrapped, the meal is delicious, the lights are all well placed and functional, the tree could be on a Christmas card. It looks effortless, but it is so much work for him.
I was doing one of my favorite things in the world this weekend and it made me think of this word. I started to think of all the things in my life that truly are effortless for me. It is a pretty short list, but I found when I thought of those things, it made me happy and in some cases filled me with pride.
One of my favorites is hitting a softball. I believe being a catcher vastly improved my ability to hit a ball well. I don’t know what other factors might be in play here, but I know that when I swing a bat it is a beautiful thing. When I connect with the ball properly, sending it to the fence is effortless. Everything about it is effortless. I love it.
This weekend I was driving my car. That’s her in the picture. I love her.
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Driving her is effortless. It is the best feeling ever. You step on the gas and she just goes. You take a corner and she hugs that corner beautifully. She is small, compact, quick, and together we are a force to be reckoned with.
I have had her for almost ten years. When I bought her I caught a lot of shit.
“You can’t have a sports car — you have three kids!”
When did that become a rule?
“You’re clearly in the middle of a mid-life crisis!”
When did finally being able to afford the car of your dreams become a crisis?
My dad had a convertible when I was a toddler. He tells me one of my first phrases was, “Top down, Daddy, top down!”. I have always loved a convertible. Owning a convertible sports car is amazing. I highly recommend it.
I will say though, when you hit the open road, demonstrating restraint is very difficult. Keeping yourself to the speed limit is challenging. Listening to the car next to you rev its engine because he thinks a race would be fun is tempting. Watching the idiot speed off while you casually more forward is funny.
Side note: it is absolutely shocking how many people Daisy and I seem to make angry as well as how many people want to race us (Daisy and I are a team btw). Dude, seriously? You and I both know mine is the winning team so let’s save us both a ticket and whatever your problem is with us — relax because I am not getting into it with you. I don’t have to and I know I don’t have to.
Sometimes though…sometimes when traffic is tight and I see an opening I know I can make… there is not much more satisfying than touching the gas pedal, taking her into 6th gear, and effortlessly passing the entire crowd to get us where we want to be.
It is a beautiful thing.
