REMEMBER ME

Yesterday I flew back to Michigan from Portland, Oregon. On my way to Denver from Portland, I had an interaction with a boy who had down syndrome and I can’t stop thinking about our time together.

To top it off, I was meditating this afternoon and the words “Remember Me” kept coming into my head.

Here’s what happened and why I can’t get these words off my mind.

I was boarding group C on Southwest, which means I was the last group to board. I love the window seat and was so badly wanting a window seat vs. the middle, which is usually what’s left if you board in group C.

As I was getting on the plane, I noticed there was a window seat open in row 4. SCORE! I was so excited not to be in the back of the plane AND have a window seat.

Then I noticed there was a mother and her son (I presume) already sitting in the row. The boy had down syndrome.

“Is this seat taken?” I asked the woman.

“No,” she said.

Then she got up and her son put his legs up on the seat so I could pass by.

“Sorry. Are you able to pass by?”

She looked at me apologetically and with a bit of an embarrassed look on her face. Honestly, I didn’t mind one bit that he didn’t move into the aisle so I could get to my seat. Plus, that’s usually what I want to do too when people need to pass by in the row!

“I can fit just fine. As long as he doesn’t mind me squeezing by,” I smiled at her as I walked to my seat.

I was getting settled in and the boy’s excitement was contagious. He appeared to be non-verbal, but he was wearing the biggest grin on his face.

He looked at me with a wide-eyed smile. And I smiled back at him. He pointed out the window at something. We were still parked, so maybe it was the airport, the tarmac. I’m really not sure.

“Cool, isn’t it?” I responded in a way so my response could relate to whatever he was pointing at.

He made a little squeal of excitement.

We started taxiing and the boys excitement grew. He started rubbing his hands together and leaning over my seat looking out the window. Then he started making the hand motions like a plane taking off. He knew we were about to take off.

I kept smiling and nodding in acknowledgement.

Then he leaned over into my seat again to look out the window. Some might find this annoying, but I found it adorable and I wanted him to have the experience of looking out the window and experiencing so much joy by simply watching everything that was passing us by.

I couldn’t help but think he was a reflection of me in that moment. We both clearly shared a giddy excitement when it came to flying. Though, I’m a little more bashful with my excitement when in public than he was. I tend to hold it in vs. letting my excitement be outwardly expressed like him. However, I loved that he was living out his truth in this moment. Sharing with the world his excitement to be on a plane.

What a good lesson for me.   

I love flying, and I love looking out the window when I fly. Everything looks and feels so different when you’re in the air. I’m always amazed by the color of the sky, how the clouds are moving and how different the world looks from 30,000 feet. I’m still amazed that we’re even able to travel around the world by plane.

So this boy was reminding me of this pent up child-like wonder I have and desperately want to express more often.

You see, I haven’t always lived with such wonder. I lost it at some point. I’m not really sure when. I closed myself off to seeing beauty, wonder and awe in the little things. I thought it was uncool to want to swing on the swings at the playground after a certain age. I thought it was dumb to get excited about seeing an animal by the time I was a teenager. I thought having wonder and awe when you learn new things was just for the kiddos.

But let me tell you -- now I choose to live in wonder. I choose to be in awe at the little things. I choose to make simple tasks seem fun. I choose to laugh at myself when I “mess up” because laughter feeds my soul.

Wonder, awe, love and laughter make me feel lighter. I see the world differently. I’m choosing to learn how to let my inner child run rampant so I can have these experiences more often and can appreciate and love every perceptual and sensory experience that comes my way.

Now back to the boy.

I was fascinated by him the whole trip. He kept to himself besides the times he wanted to share his joy with his mother. He pulled out the flight magazine and was flipping through the pages looking at all the pictures. And then the snacks came. And my goodness, he was so excited to get a snack! It was like he had won the lottery.

What I loved and appreciated the most about our interactions was how every time he experienced excitement, he looked back at me and smiled. I had my headphones on for most of the ride, but I still returned the smile whenever I saw him looking at me.

Then about halfway through the trip, I noticed his mother had put her head on his shoulder and he had his head resting on hers. It was one of those moments where I wanted to be the creepy stranger who took a photo so I could send it to the mom when she woke up. You’ll be happy to know I resisted all temptations, but boy, did my heart melt when I saw them.

They slept for a little while and then he woke up.

At this point we were starting our descent, and he was wanting to look out the window again. I was reading now, so I moved closer to the window so he could have more space to lean towards the window.

Then we landed and he started clapping.

I’ve been on flights before where people start clapping when we land. My first clapping experience was on an international flight and I found it hilarious. I remember cracking up because I was thinking, “Are we congratulating the pilot for getting us here safely? I feel like this should be expected!” And now it has happened numerous times, so I’m not surprised by it anymore and I just join in because, well, everyone else is doing it, so I guess I will too. And why not take a moment to celebrate life!

But this time, he was the only one clapping. And it was adorable. I have no idea if he was going on vacation or arriving back home, but he was excited to be in Denver. His eyes were enlarged with excitement, the smile was back, he was laughing, clapping and just enjoying every second of life in that moment.

He made me giggle.

We were starting to deplane and he was having issues getting his seatbelt undone. The mother had already stood up so hadn’t noticed he was trying to get it unbuckled. I let him keep working at it, but then he looked up at me. He didn’t ask or gesture that he needed help, but he had a helpless look on his face. After another unsuccessful try, I ended up helping him.

He stood up quickly, turned around and said “Bye!” to me while waving at the same time. I waved back and was surprised, as I thought he was non-verbal.

Then as we were getting off, he turned back to me and I swear to God he said, “Remember Me. Bye!”

I waved back again and said another good-bye.

Now I have no idea if that’s what he said because like I mentioned, he was non-verbal and hadn’t said any recognizable words for the 2.5 hours we sat next to each other.

Remember Me.

This caught me totally off guard and if I hadn’t had a whole plane waiting for me to get off, I would have stopped dead in my tracks, but I kept walking.

Remember Me.

I’ve been reflecting on our interactions and it brings me a smile every time I think of this boy. This was definitely the divine at work, sending me a message. Reminding me to remember this boy, and his child-like wonder and awe, laughter and excitement.

I’ve learned on my journey that every interaction we have with someone, or something, is a reflection of ourselves in some way. And today, I was so thankful for this boy. He inspired me to continue to see life through his eyes, to continue to let out my child like spirit. He reminded me to continue to see life with such wonder and awe, and to pass on this great sufficiency of love we are all capable of giving.

Today this boy reminded me of some great lessons.

To remember to see goodness and beauty in all. To remember to live in love. To remember there is no right or wrong. To remember we are all One.

It was a reminder that beauty comes in all sorts of shapes, sizes and colors.

He reminded me to have fun and not be afraid to let out my inner child.

He reminded me that we’re not our experiences.

He also has me remembering that I’m a divine energy source who has the power to choose in every moment.

He has me remembering what feeds my soul when I start to get off track. And he has me remembering, if I ever feel like I’m getting off track, I can always get back on track.

Remember Me.

The words Remember Me also have me thinking about my soul. I think my soul was speaking to me in that moment when he spoke these words. It wants me to remember to give it lots of love, grace and compassion, everyday. It wants me to never forget that I’m more than just a biodegradable human bodysuit and that there is a strong force that lives inside.

Sometimes I forget this, and I’m so thankful for his words. Remember Me.

I will always remember you, my friend.