When I lived in France my best friend was my teammate,
Myriam’s three year old daughter, Leana. Her mom’s French friends would ask how we
got along and played together—Leana didn’t speak English and I understood very
little French. I couldn’t ask her about her friends or her school or her
favorite foods. But we were buddies anyway and it was really very simple.
Kids create their own worlds. All I had to do was step into
hers and accept it as it was. She’d explain everything in rapid French and I
couldn’t understand any of the rules or what she wanted so I’d just figure it
out as we went along. Now we’re playing tag…now we’re hiding from something…now
she just wants to sit on my lap quietly. And as we go her world starts to take
shape in my head too. I don’t know the exact colors she sees or what “monsters”
we’re hiding from but I start to see the outlines and I can feel what she
feels.
Adults create their own worlds too. And I think sometimes
about what it would be like if we all just tried to step into each other’s
worlds and accept them. Not to pick things apart or demand that it makes sense
within our own worldview or to get caught on what divides us but to reserve
judgment and try to figure it out as we go along. If we just tried to feel what
they feel. What could we learn about each other if we had the patience to try?
On my last day in France our club held a gathering for the
team and fans. Leana walked right into my arms, melted into me and did not so
much as lift her head for anyone for the next hour. We didn’t need words. I
loved her and she loved me and we accepted each other. And most of the time isn’t
that all we need?
