not tired anymore

i just wanted to go home. i was crabby, demoralized and so tired from work that my bed seemed like the only place i should be. people kept passing me as i headed for my car and saying, 'are you coming?'. i didn't know what they were talking about and assumed i had just been attending to some work emergency when word was being passed around earlier in the day about meeting for drinks when the day was done. as i headed to the parking structure i could see the stream of people making a steady right just before the entrance to the structure. i was walking slower than most because i was carrying a lot of stuff and my arms and legs felt like lead. as i reached the turn off point, one of the people looked at me with a beautiful smile and shining eyes eyes before they walked to the right. in that moment i decided to 'go'. i turned to the right and found myself in a long, dark passageway. i could just make out a light at the far end and it illuminated my path enough that i didn't lose my footing on the uneven ground. my bags were heavy and there was a slight incline making the effort i had to expend to walk it almost unbearable. as i drew closer to the light i could see the color becoming a cool blue. more people passing me and smiling. i thought about turning back but i was 2/3rds there and i really just decided it would be better to get there and find someplace to rest a bit before i went back to my car. as i reached the entrance, the blue intensified and i could make out the massive ragged cavernous opening that let into the space. the ground grew more steep and i had to look down to watch my step as i pressed on.

suddenly i was in the space. it was living, pure, highly oxygenated untouched planet earth. vast expanses of beautiful vistas stretched out before me. i immediately felt energized and became overwhelmed by the beauty. i dropped my bags, fell to my knees and began to cry with total abandon. as people passed me, they touched my shoulder and said, 'i know...' i turned my tear-filled eyes in every direction and everything i saw was more beautiful and breathtaking than i imagined anything could ever be. i stretched out onto the soft, green moss beneath me. i rolled onto my back and looked at the periwinkle sky. pure white altocumulus and cumulus clouds rolled by gently in the sky. after a long while i rolled over on my belly and cradled my head in my arms as i looked past the verdant mountains toward the sea.

i felt whole and peaceful and deeply happy.