The above picture was taken in Australia and the picture below was taken last week in Kuala Lumpur.
What do these pictures have in common (besides both having my son in them)?
They marked the beginning of two different canopy walks.
In Malaysia it was at the Forest Research Institute, where they reclaimed an old industrial wasteland and made it jungle again (above).
In Australia we walked among the giant tingle treetops (above).
But at both I found myself walking on tiny, looooong bridges, high, high up in the trees.
Amazing. Fantastic. I loved it.
But... these walks were not exactly for the faint of heart.
They felt like small practices in bravery (not to mention yoga breathing).
They were exercises in trust.
They felt a bit like what it feels like when you put your art out in the world, actually.
You trust that the journey will be a bit thrilling, you'll be glad you did it, you probably won't crash to the ground, but things will feel a little shaky and uncertain, even if exciting.
And your view on the world will be different, at least for a bit.
There may even be anchors along the way, to help calm your nerves, even while keeping the view.
You probably won't fly, but it might feel a bit like you are.
You might even decide to go for it again...
What a cheesy post.
But a bit of truth is there somewhere, I'm sure.
If not for being an artist, then at least for being an adventur-ess.
Now, back to the ground.