last weekend i treated myself to a solo retreat.
and i had planned to write all about it in this week’s blog post.
but i realized that i wasn’t yet finished.
processing, synthesizing, and digesting the experience.
so i’ve decided to wait another seven days.
to let the epiphanies sink in a bit more.
to fully appreciate the insightful clarity i have gained.
which left me searching for an alternative for today’s topic.
i sifted through a few brewing ideas,
one by one dismissing them all.
and then i saw her . . .
the girl in the yellow supercape.
she was running confidently down the sidewalk.
seemingly assured of her apparent superpowers.
i was so struck by the fleeting yet poignant scene,
unfolding before my eyes,
that i didn’t think to take a picture
until she was almost out of sight.
i remember being that little girl.
i remember skipping down the street,
carefree and happy.
completely aware of my unique abilities
and my audacious dreams.
wholly in touch with myself and my environment.
however, as it often happens along the journey of life,
some of the confidence ebbed.
a few of the abilities grew rusty.
there were sad days mixed in with the happy.
and several dreams were altered or erased.
the supercape became a fleeting image.
but guess what?
i am consciously devoted to recapturing
the girl in the yellow supercape.
- by only engaging in activities that delight me
- by revising my path whenever i hit a wall
- by boldly pursuing my dreams and not giving up
- by believing in myself and displaying genuine grit
- by listening to my thoughts, feelings, behaviors
- by living on purpose and making each day count
- by trusting in my creativity and originality
i imagine that yellow supercape flowing behind me,
with each breath that i take.
have you ever lost sight of the girl in the yellow supercape?
how did you (or will you) rediscover her?
please share share share your heroic adventures with me!
Speechless. I remember that feeling when I was a kid and now I see it in my 4 year old son. The thought that grown-ups are superheroes and when I grew up I will be one. Sad that our life slowly strips off that dream we once had.
The other day at a picnic my nephews forgot the “life saver” at the river. And it was already pitch black when we remembered. My husband went with his motorcycle and when looking for it. Minutes later he came back with it. My 4 year old son fell quiet. As soon as we rode the motorcycle on our way home. He suddenly shouted: “Papa! I didn’t know You are a Superhero! You saved the day!”
It was just like your story here. Sometimes we need to be reminded of our dreams. Thanks for an awesome post April!
what a sweet story, ella, and how absolutely fitting. your 4yo son sounds like a cutie!
Wow! What an a great experience. I can completely relate, sadly, to feeling like you lost your supercape and your spark. But your right, through conscious thought of remembering that bright yellow cape flowing behind us, we can get back our superpowers and confidence. Thanks for bringing a flowing cape in my line of vision. Fantastic post, April!
thank you, sarah. and i’d love to hear what adventures you and your flowing cape are going on!
Great post! Unfortunately I’ve lost my cape many times…what helps me to rediscover the carefree, happy, dreamer is really quite simple. Stay present to the subtle moments that offer you the greatest gifts of all…love, authenticity, and connection. When I recognize that I have so much to be grateful for, the super cape magically appears once again. Thanks for the reminder to stay present…
what a lovely sentiment, stacey. love, authenticity, and connection will make that supercape magically appear . . .
I have to share this with you. Two weeks ago as I was taking my son Alex to school, he was annoyed that his favorite jacket was still in the dryer. After telling him to find another jacket to wear he emerged in a cape. It was a Batman cape that I made for him when he was just a toddler; he is now 12! As he got out of the car, I thought we should all be so brave to put on our capes each morning.
sheila – i love this so much!! (and your last sentence literally made me cry.) thank you so much for sharing your son’s story here – what a great guy.
April, I love how PRESENT you are to all the little gifts the Universe sends you each day – that girl in the yellow supercape is a beautiful reminder to all of us, myself included. She is reminding me to let go and play. Be a little ridiculous, life’s too short not too :).
thanks, sabrina. yes, she was a shining example of how to live life with gusto – right in front of my eyes! 🙂
Beautiful metaphor, April! I am pretty sure I lost my cape once I became an adult and met the “real world.” I’m getting it back, though. And I’m trying to help my children hang on to theirs. Looking forward to hearing about your epiphanies!
so happy to hear that you are reclaiming your supercape, beth! and bravo to you for giving that example to your kids.
Oh my gosh… HOW MUCH DO I LOVE THIS POST! oh.. the girl in the yellow super cape… you know, sometimes, she just does so many grown up things I can’t see her down the road to capture a picture either…. I’m for CERTAIN, going to be more on the look out for that beautiful yellow caped girl, skipping down the side walk …without a care in the world… mmmmmmm…. I’m in love with her already~~ xooxx
thank you so much, elizabeth. and let me know what your beautiful skipping yellow-caped girl comes up with!
This post brings a wide grin to my lips even though I cannot even fathom the child in me who might have worn that supergirl cape. That little girl was silenced at a very early age by a very unhappy and violent mother but I celebrate her now as she discovers her superpowers one by one and celebrates each. Love this post. Thank you, April.
sending hugs your way, sue ann. i am saddened that little girl didn’t get to experience the flying freedom of the supercape. but, wow! you have absolutely reclaimed and unleashed those superpowers that were always inside you, waiting for the right time. what incredible strength and love you now share with the world as you proudly display your supercape.
I love thinking about our ‘girl in the yellow cape’ complete with superpowers! I remember feeling carefree without a worry in the world. Becoming a parent certainly shifted things but as my kids are almost grown I am reconnecting with her. Great post April!
thanks, susie!
I love this so much! I used to think I could fly when I was a little girl. I even made a cape and wings. I thought if I could get really good at it by leaping from the front steps, I could find a way to climb to the top of the fence or the roof of the house and really take off and fly through space and around the world the way I did in my sleep. My experiments didn’t quite work…
My bicycle was my next best super cape. I remember distinctly the feelings of power and energy as I rode as fast as I could on my 2-wheeler to the park. I was invincible. That is probably my body memory of invincibility…my time on my bike.
I think my little yellow-caped girl was very strong. She lived with a mother who was narcissistic and violent and without that yellow cape her inner life would not have been rich enough to sustain her through to adulthood.
We all surely need a yellow-caped girl to keep us going. Thank you for this, April! xo
it sounds as if your yellow-caped girl has served you well, susan – especially when you needed her most. sending warm wishes your way. your strength and courage are admirable.
yes, I lost myself a few years back to a relationship. And I found myself again!!! And I found the little girl who loved horses and so took myself off to learn equine facilitation, yes coaching and partnering with horses, such a delight. I travelled the world, walked the Camino trail, danced with Himba women, got painted in ochre, was a roadie with an Irish harpist in Germany, oh, so many adventures ! I love having my free spirit back!!
thank you for sharing these delightful tales of your supercape girl, deb! (oh – and walking the camino trail is on my list of things i must do. :))
I need to find a yellow cape. Beautiful April!
let me know when you don it, karen! 🙂
I have definitely had moments of feeling that my super cape was lost to the wind and I have had times when I question weather or not I ever had one. And then I you realize it was hiding in a closet, and the ability to know you can pull it out is awesome!
pleased to hear that you not only found your supercape tucked back inside the closet, heather, but that you know when and how to pull it out! awesome is right.
April…I smiled this entire post. I have experienced short fleeting glimpses of the girl in the yellow cape over the years. As a child our life was not designed for such fantasies. However, I caught up to her in my late forties…SO happy to have her as a playmate these days 🙂 Thanks for the reminder to play.
and your comment made me smile, dana. love that you were open to discovering the girl in the supercape in your 40s AND welcoming her in!
I love this! It is so easy to forget how amazing the world is through the eyes of a child. A lot of us lose that throughout our life without even realizing it. The great thing is, is that it can always be recaptured. I do by watching my grandchildren and their outlook on life. I also do it by taking time to recenter and detach from my busy life, taking things in for what they are and not any value or lack thereof that I may have attached to them. There is so much wonder and beauty out there in this world, as well as within myself, sometimes it’s just taking a quick moment to clear away all of the clutter to see it in full view!
yes, it can definitely be recaptured, cathy. how wonderful that you can now share this rediscovery with your grandchildren. i also appreciate the way you describe your awareness of the world’s wonder and beauty.
Children naturally have a carefree attitude where anything is possible. I realized when I hit my thirties, how much I have disconnected from such an attitude in favor of what the main-stream call being an adult. Well in reality, what the main stream calls life sucks and I went on a mission to recapture the same carefree attitude of my youth. To live my life in in teh essence of Joy Peace and Bliss just because I can. Honestly, what if the whole purpose of life is to have fun?
“to live my life in the essence of joy, peace, and bliss.” a lovely existence, alecia. thanks for sharing.
Fantastic! So motivating and easy to relate to, April. Wishing you every good thing 🌸🍃