Yesterday, I took some photos of the golden Autumn leaves outside my window. This morning, it was miserable weather, rain and wind, and there were more leaves than ever before on the ground as well as swirling around. Overnight, the leaves seem to have become even richer in colour (or is that just me messing around with Picasa?).
Anyway, last week I was talking with a friend about childhood and I suddenly remembered a birthday party I had when I was maybe eight or nine years old. I couldn't remember much, except that I was upset that another boy at the party had somehow "stolen the show". I've never been one for celebrating my own birthday since. My friend suggested I try to forgive this boy.
I spoke to my dad today and asked him about it. He recalled there being another boy at the party who was "not very robust" and who was teamed with me in a three-legged race. Unfortunately, my competitive spirit got the better of me and I ended up dragging this poor boy along the ground, hurting his leg in the process. His mum had to come and collect him and take him home crying.
Not long after, I began meditating. After about half an hour, I was "awakened" by this single brown leaf as it blew in through my window with "tears" of rain running down its "face".