Parallel Play

Sitting on my balcony this summer day. Watching people wander along the sidewalk to a festival around the corner. Family's, groups of friends, couples holding hands. Even a couple of crows, hopping along in search of treats that might have been left by the wandering humans.

A memory surfaced. A friend and I were at a cafe, and working on own projects on our computers. We sat across from each other, enjoying each other's presence while we worked separately, but still near to each other. Not needing to be in dialogue, not having to engage with each other, just being together. He called it parallel play, and we enjoyed this many times over the years.

Now these moments of noticing these human interactions on the street, where people, and crows, were not necessarily conversing as they walked, but just being together. And yes, many of them were in conversation and chattering about events in there day. But those that weren't, just walking, hand-in-hand or side-by-side, evoked a feeling of belonging, togetherness.

How often have I been in presence with another, or others, and felt it had to be filled with words to be meaningful or productive? I've been realizing lately how much of my time, when I am with other humans, I need to fill it with something more than "being present" in our presence together. Even the 'Walk and Talks' in the forest ...while filled with wonderful conversations, there are moments to be quiet and revel in the surrounding nature and beauty... absorbing it all... together without words.

Parallel play is the essence of being present in a field of energy and simply enjoying it together, in whatever shape or form it takes on. Brief words shared. Glances across a short distance to acknowledge a comment or happening nearby.

When have you enjoyed moments of parallel play? Not knowing what it was, or how to define it. Being present with another being in close proximity just to be present with them.