Potentialities

We had one of those beautiful moments a few nights ago. Mon sat back against me and we watched Noli move around and poke against Mon's belly.

We're excited about her coming into the world, but at this point, we can actually only be excited about the idea of her. That's one of the great things about babies, your imagination can run free. They have the potential to do anything, to be any kind of person. Will she be an artist, a teacher, an astronaut? Will she find a partner early in life or maybe never marry? A baby's whole life is potential.

Her father, on the other hand, at 30 years (staring at 31) is much less potential. I'm not going to be a poet, a pro basketball player, or an astronaut. In realizing some our potential, making it actuality, we have to let go of other potentialities. And as we get older, the more the balance tips toward actuality and away from potentiality.

I hope Noli realizes her best potential, her potential that will make her life happy and full. And I hope she learns that no matter what her age and no matter what her life experience, she always has the potential for hope, compassion and love.