up until recently, i never would have used the term 'perfect moment.' absolute terms like 'perfect' seem in the realm of fantasy (untruth) rather than reality (truth), therefore encourage the embracing of illusion.

but ... these days i experience lots of moments that i'd call perfect. not in the sense of 'entirely without flaws, defects, shortcomings.' rather: these perfect moments are utterly 'what they are.' no need or even possibility of fixing or improvement.

in the spirit of this forum, i ask you to please share one (or more) of your personal perfect moments. :-)

the first moment i had that i would call 'perfect' was a few years back during a trip to ghent, belgium. i was sitting alone in a private courtyard surrounded by 18th-century (17th? 16th?) weathered, in some places crumbling, houses and an abandoned barn-like shed with most of one wall missing. cobblestones, with grass growing through the cracks. a few trees, some ivy. very quiet, mid-afternoon. a bunny rabbit in a wire-mesh cage a few yards away. i sat in a chair in one corner of the courtyard, feet up on a rock ... taking in the scene before me ... and it was ... perfect.

rachMiel ... wrote:
in the spirit of this forum, i ask you to please share one (or more) of your personal perfect moments. :-)

It was August in Mexico, a blistering hot day. As I walked along the narrow, raised sidewalk, a man pushing a wooden wheel-barrow-type contraption approached from the opposite direction. The contraption carried a young, TERRIBLY developmentally-disabled girl. Drool pooled at the corners of her slack jaw. Her stiff arms and legs splayed out in all directions.

As I pressed my sweaty back against the wall, preparing to allow them to pass, I was filled with pity for the poor man. His daughter lacked the capacity to walk or talk or reason. How could she possibly offer him anything in return for the time and effort he spent tending to her every need? She might as well be a lump of wood.

Suddenly, he bent forward and began to sing a hushed melody in Spanish. Her response was immediate. I've never before (or since) seen such a radiant, heart-felt smile.

They took no notice of me pressed against the wall as they passed. It was as if nothing existed in their world outside of the joy they were experiencing through one another.

By being in the right place at the right time . . . I was allowed to share in that joy. Although it is only a memory now, at the time, it was a perfect moment.

I have many perfect moments. Several times a day actually . But here is one unforgettable occasion.

Once, I was driving up north in New Hampshire and as I was on freeway suddenly mist sorrounded the car completely. The altitude was a little high and weather slightly cold. I pulled my car due to low visibility and as I was standing near a mountain, a deer escaped from the woods and stood very close to me. It was utterly beautiful. The deer shone like gold as the light rays passed through the mist and touched its skin. Its eyes were like glass balls reflecting various colors. I was with it for several minutes before it went back into the woods.

There is a certain beauty associated with conditioning.

beautiful moments, linda and keshni. (gave me goose bumps.) thank you both for sharing these! :-)

interestingly, each of them brought back powerful memories of 'similar' moments that i have experienced. resonance. :-)

Wow! Thanks rachMiel.

Keshni, can you share another one?