"Is there life after delivery?"

A story told during my yoga retreat

I arrived early, hours before my room was ready. Guests whose week was ending kept walking past me, skin burnt and eyes a bit sad, dragging bulging suitcases filled with sweaty leggings, freshly bought souvenirs, and a few illicitly collected seashells behind them. I took a deep breath and then a large sip of my smoothie. I was back.

My yoga teacher met me an hour after my arrival. We hugged and squealed, and then we settled in for a nice, long chat. During that chat she told me a story that someone had shared with her. I knew right away that I would share the story with you, since it deeply touched me and made my soul sing.

I didn’t look the story up, choosing to recount it as it was told to me to the best of my abilities.

Is there life after delivery?

Two babies are floating in the womb, talking.

“Do you think there is life after delivery?” one baby asks.

“Of course not,” the second baby answers. “This is all we know; it’s all there is.”

“But what if there’s more?” the first baby asks. “Maybe what comes after delivery is better than this life? Maybe we walk with our feet and eat with our mouths?”

“Nonsense,” the second baby says dismissively. “We get our nutrients from the umbilical cord. Walking is impossible. I tell you, there is nothing after delivery.”

The first baby isn’t convinced. “I think there is something bigger than this life waiting.”

“Why would you believe that? Nobody has ever come back.”

“But what about Mother? Mother will be there.”

The second baby scoffs. “You believe in Mother? Have you ever seen her? She isn’t real.”

“She is,” the first baby insists. “She is all around us. We wouldn’t exist without her.”

“I don’t think so,” the twin replies. “I’ve never seen or heard her. She doesn’t exist.”

“She does. When you get quiet, you can hear her voice. She’s waiting for us on the other side.”

“But how do you know?” the second baby asks urgently.

“I believe.”

Happy Earth day, my loves!