Constant

[caption id="attachment_1196" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="She let me know pretty early on that she would not tolerate those bows."][/caption]

Last week, Ben and I were driving to pick Ellie up from school.  It was one of those absolutely gorgeous spring days that we often seem to have all summer long here in Wisconsin.  Bright blue skies, a breeze, maybe just a hint of chill in the air.  As we drove by Ellie's school, I noticed sweet Ellie standing outside with her class as they worked in the garden.  Ellie sort of stood off on her own, just contently staring at the sky or trees.  Suddenly a man across the street turned on his lawn mower and Ellie had a startled look on her face as she does any time loud noises startle her.  What an illustration of  how constant Ellie is.  I mean most of us (even 5-year-old Ben) alter ourselves depending on who we are with and what the situation calls for.  Not Ellie.  She will have the same response regardless of if she is alone in her room, at school, on a walk...She is just constant.  I was sort of inspired as I sometimes find myself twisting and turning myself into loops trying to "fit into" a situation.  How much more freeing it would be to just be able to authentically be myself regardless of what was happening around me.