Chills.
Is there anything on Earth that gives you the chills every time it happens? You know the little bumps that consume every inch of your flesh within .5 seconds due to an overwhelming emotion; one that you can feel reach into your chest and touch your heart. Sometimes bringing with it those immediate tears to your eyes before you even realize they are there.
Watching my kids perform or succeed in school or at a sporting event provides a prompt vicarious flashback to when I was in grade school; producing extreme emotion at times. Chills.
Every time I hear our wedding song; “When I Fall in Love” by Nat King Cole. I will never forget how the DJ at our wedding played the wrong version of the song! I mean really?!?! The WRONG version of THE newlyweds’ song – I am pretty sure that was covered in the planning! But to this day I have the RIGHT version on my iPod. Chills.
Truly realizing that I am doing what I was put on this planet to do; through teaching about health, fitness and nutrition. Helping people realize that they have the potential to do anything they set their minds to! Not much touches the emotion I feel when someone shares with me their successes and how appreciative they are for my help in getting there. Chills.
The Star Spangled Banner. I truly think that 9-11 amped up my patriotism quite a bit – how could it not? However, I have always considered myself patriotic; although, not overly so. With respect, honor, love and loyalty for this amazing country, our family has the American flag hung outside our front door year around. We wear red, white & blue and enjoy celebrating the 4th, Memorial Day and Labor Day. We praise our troops and have sent multiple packages to our soldiers in Afghanistan and Iraq. Seeing military families reunited on TV brings those tears out of nowhere with no delay. Chills.
Picture this…….it’s the 4th of July in Washington DC. I am with Jay and the kids and my mom; all of us wearing red, white and blue, of course. We are sitting in section 132, row V at Nationals Park excited for the baseball game to start at 11am. The US Air Force drill team is on the field performing seemingly impossible tricks with their rifles in faultless formation. As they finish and the immense applauses fade, a young lady behind home plate begins to sing the national anthem. A slight breeze blows in the otherwise extremely hot air, while the crowd stands impeccably still. In the distance a faint rumbling sound swells and within precise timing of the end of the song, four Unites States Armed Forces helicopters fly over the stadium. Chills.
It is true that as I have matured, I am absolutely a more emotional person; often times tearing up after reading a Hallmark card 🙂 Nevertheless, each and every one of these experiences is so diverse, yet evoking equivalent emotions.
So, here is my question for you – what kinds of experiences give you chills?