The Weekend Away That Started With A Text Message
Sometimes the things we want are waiting for us to put them into words.
My childhood best friend lives interstate. Or, more accurately, I moved interstate and she stayed in our home state.
We keep in touch through messages, and whenever I go back for a visit, we catch up over a roast at my mum’s. Even so, I often feel as though we’ve missed out on a lot together.
Then, last week, an ad for Fiddler on the Roof in Sydney appeared on my phone. It’s a musical I’ve always wanted to see.
Without even thinking, I messaged my friend.
“I think we should meet in Sydney and see Fiddler on the Roof together.”
Her reply came back quickly.
“Pick a date.”
And that’s how we ended up booking a weekend away together. Just the two of us and a musical, good food, wine, and whatever else happens.
She’s flying. I’m taking the train.
I haven’t travelled to Sydney by train in about 30 years, so I’m quite excited about that too. Four hours to read and write, all alone.
We’ve talked about catching up for a long time. Yet somehow, we never did it. Then, in a single moment, a couple of text messages made it happen.
Sometimes, the life we want begins with saying something out loud. Not every idea survives contact with reality, but some do. They’re simply waiting for someone to give them a voice.
What started as a passing thought is now a weekend in the diary. A show to look forward to. Time with a friend.
And it has left me wondering what else might be waiting for me to put it into words.
I write to understand what it means to be human in a messy, chaotic world. If this piece resonated with you in some way, you’re always welcome to subscribe to The Being Space.
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If you’d like to sit with these ideas a little longer, my book What if Life Came with a User Guide is available on Amazon.
It's funny how many thoughts and intentions we have that never cross the barrier into reality! I look forward to your train ride. I love the train. I once took a 3 day trip on one, and can't wait to do it again.