Little One
My lions have over the years regularly resulted in eyebrows being raised. At times, I traveled with three of them. Not hidden from sight. They always chose to be visible.
Dangling from my handbag or sitting in a safe place in my backpack, they would travel along and explore the world.
My lions are not just a few toys, they are beings. And they clearly express themselves. I remember the look on the face of one of my closest friends, when I exclaimed ‘Oh, look at my lion. He’s not amused today.’
She had answered along the lines of it simply being his facial expression. Imagine her surprise, when the next day, that same lion was looking quite contented.
To me they are precious. They represent beings that are part of my path here on Earth. I know, for each of them, which human being they are connected to. I have never told it to the people involved. They probably don’t realize it, even though they are well-aware of their lion origins.
My lions don’t have names. I refer to them as He, She and Little One.
He was the first to enter my life in 2005, followed by Little One. She joined the team in 2006.
I never have to guess, who wants to come with me on a journey. They will let me know. At times all three of them come along, at other times only one or two. It often depends on the adventure ahead. She doesn’t like hiking or camping. He and Little One aren’t fans of it either, but may join for the sake of exploring new grounds and spending time with me.
If any of my lions has set its mind on joining me, there is no avoiding the call.
About two weeks ago, I noticed that Little One had left me. Over the years, he had occasionally dropped to the floor. Time and again a sound had warned me, allowing me to pick him up again. This time he left without a goodbye. Without an explanation. Simply gone, without the slightest of sounds.
Yesterday, it hit me. It was time to set him free, and to fully embrace that he may not come back.
Happy travels, Little One. Wherever your path is taking you, walk it from your lion heart, free from fear. With ease and grace. May there be many amazing adventures ahead of you.
And who knows, maybe one day, our paths will cross again.
He and She are ready for our next adventure. They are standing tall, guarding my luggage. We’re all set for what’s ahead. We have felt departure coming. It has taken much longer than we expected. No-man’s-land isn’t predictable. Soon a border will open. It is tangible.