The secrets of fountains

Fountains. There is one in every town. They herald us into neighborhoods. They are the centerpieces of local parks. And as the days get longer and the temperature rises, they almost beckon us to come and sit next to them. Even if only for a few minutes. They are a subtle reminder of all the best things in life. Spend enough time sitting next to one and you just might discover a few secrets of life:

Time is Constant: The fountain has been an age-old symbol of abundance. The water just keeps coming. The source elusive. All we truly know is that in this moment, we have something constantly streaming at us. As my husband likes to remind me, these are the golden years. This is a time in our lives in which we are healthy, happy and have people around us that we love. It is easy to think that life will always be exactly as it is today. The reality is that life is precious. A gift. It is important not only to appreciate all the abundance surrounding us in our lives, but also occasionally stop and give thanks for all that we have.

Soak In The Sun: Even if early morning clouds roll across the summer sky, there is something warm and peaceful about fountains. If you are lucky enough to enjoy one on a bright, sunny day, squeeze your eyes shut for a few minutes and feel the sun reflect off your face. With your eyes closed and your heart as peace, anything is possible. Worries cease. Problems drift away. All that is left is the feeling that anything is within our reach. A life (or at least a day) without limits. Just waiting for us to enjoy it.

Listen To Yourself: Sitting next to the fountain, the rest of the world fades into oblivion. The rush of water literally drowns out the cars driving down the road, the people walking up ahead or even the children playing in the park across the way. For a few minutes, the only thing you can hear is our own voice. While I won't go as far to say that it is truly meditative. It does allow us to tune out the rest of the world and focus on our own thoughts. There aren't any expectations, demands, timelines or outside noises of any kind. The only thing we can hear is our own heart’s desire. Given the fact that 95% of our waking hours are spent listening to others, it is important to spend at least a few minutes every day remembering who we are and where we want to go.

Spend Time With Others: The fountain is too compelling to enjoy by ourselves. Next time, bring a friend, a family member or simply smile at a stranger walking by. The water isn't so loud that we can't carry on a conversation. But it is loud enough to give us a sense of intimacy and privacy. This is our time to ask questions, listen intently and share our inner-most thoughts and feelings. Life is too short to keep our true selves constantly bottled up. Sharing moments with others is where we get our sense of community, acceptance and even accomplishment. Think about your proudest or happiest moment. Imagine it all by yourself. Now imagine it surrounded by others. People are what make the world go round. Make sure you include as many good people in your life as possible.

Stay Young At Heart: We have all heard of the Fountain of Youth. We see references to it in literature and movies. Ponce de Leon actually discovered what is now known as Florida in his quest for the legendary spring. Modern day fountains are not much different. I guarantee if you sit next to one for a while, you will see at least a few groups of children run up to it with unabashed excitement. For some reason, children are enchanted with water, particularly fountains. Adults should follow suit. At the very least they should pay attention and live vicariously through them. Similar to the way children approach fountains, we all should charge through our days with exhilaration, passion and determination. We should worry less about being late to our next appointment/errand and concentrate more on the journey itself. Sometimes it is okay to follow our hearts and take the path less traveled. Especially if it allows us to smile more, laugh often, and find out who we are along the way.

Practice What You Preach: Sitting next to the fountain, it is easy to think that we have found all the solutions to life. Enclosed in the cocoon of peace and solitude, life is simple. Our hearts are full. Our thoughts are composed. And our  future is decidedly more defined. With the sun in our face and the occasional gusts of a summer breeze refreshing our weary bodies, it is only natural to think about working less, spending more time with our loved ones, learning new skills and even taking that all important big plunge into the unknown. We imagine ourselves inder, gentler, smarter and definitely more alive. The important thing is to actually follow through on those thoughts. As we emerge back into the real world filled with the jarring distractions of expectations, disappointments and obligations, this is when the power of the fountain truly comes into play. The fountain doesn’t have to simply sit in the middle of the park a few miles away. Fountains essentially belong to all of us. To enjoy and to take with us in our hearts, our minds (and most importantly) our souls. Any time we choose. And any place we decide to go.