Standing On Top Of The World Is Power

Most weeks, I don’t do enough to feel empowered. I’m working, momming, putting away dishes or toys or whatever, and *poof,* it’s Sunday night, and I wonder where the week went. Last week though, empowerment came often. To celebrate my favorite human turning double digits, we drove to the top of the world. And I’ll tell you – standing on top of the world is power.

It was one of those unfolding experiences – where you think the best part of the trip just happened, but then, you find another view, stop to pose for photos, and again for buffalo crossing the road.

I didn’t count how many times we stopped for photos and froliking, convinced we’d never see anything better.

“It’ll never get better than The Grand Tetons,” I think.

Standing On Top Of The World Is Power

We round a corner, and better is breathtaking. The water is high and fast. “Don’t go near the edge,” I say. “I’ve been swimming since I was a baby,” he replies. “Not in this water,” I say, in awe of its power. Our hearts are full. We breathe, sure the best views have been had.

Until we park and walk to the edge of the world for this view. Better and better, with each step.

Empowerment is a cold barefoot test of the water when everything is right and good in this moment, in this place. Yes, there are still babies in cages, and an evil assclown living in the White House. Because they’re all happening – love, terror, bliss, and sorrow. Breathing here, in this place though, is power. 

Walking around a volcano is power, too. These magical places, on this earth, in this time. Seeing Old Faithful erupt.

Driving on a new road in an old place and seeing this before the park closes is power. It was just us, in big skies, on this earth. Here. For this moment.

Power is driving to a place where the buffalo still roam. Seeing thousands of them. Hiking, and being. It’s in a photo of a boy turning 10 posing with his grandma in front of a herd of buffalo, under big skies, folded in big dreams.

Power is celebrating 10 with a cake loaded with 11 sparklers – 10 for the years, and one for luck – with family, and friends.

It’s in a first-caught fish, after getting hailed on with marble-sized hail, knowing none of your friends’ summer stories will have that specific detail. It’s standing under a tree freezing, and then, just minutes later, letting the sun warm your wet clothes. It’s the face you make when you’re not sure whether you’re grossed out, proud, and feel both, under misty skies, on a boat, in the middle of a lake.

Standing On Top Of The World Is Power

There’s watching fireworks, and knowing we’re each stronger than we realize, and that our stories matter. I’m thankful for other people’s stories. For my own, and for my son’s.

There’s something about standing on top of the world that makes you feel huge and small at once. Connected to everything ever, in all times and places, but also completely yourself, standing on this one particular spot, in this one exact time. Empowerment is feeding chipmunks sunflower seeds from the palm of your hand. It’s views that you’re convinced are the best you’ve ever seen. 

You drive a little further, and see this. You’re actually standing on top of the world. Close enough, anyway.

We’re home, and have 1,001 loads of laundry to do, photo albums to make, and are once again surprised to see the date on the calendar. There are still babies in cages, and an evil assclown in the White House, but also, we know that on the top of the world, there’s a herd of big horned sheep, hanging out at this glacier lake. We close our eyes and remember.

We feel the power from standing on top of the world.

“What was your favorite part?” he asks. And the moments stay with us. 

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This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post, with the prompt “I’m most empowered by…”

WHAT ARE YOU MOST EMPOWERED BY?? PLEASE SHARE. <3