When Two of My Worlds Collide in One Contained Space

We can be assertive and compassionate, ruthless and empathetic.

Ali Hall
6 min readAug 16, 2021

I let my imagination persuade me I’m in a snow globe. I am transfixed by the snowflakes floating towards me from dark oblivion. Only to turn into a wet mush once they collide with the warmth of the glass, then dribble down the window in front of me. There is something so meditative about watching snowflakes.

Together for one moment in time

A contagious giggle draws my attention to the inside of my snow globe. I have a seat to myself several rows from the back. I scan my vessel to find the source of the noise. At the very back, two young children bounce on the seats, shrieking with joy. Their legs dangle down, still too short to rest on the floor. Their flailing arms serve as a spring, giving them a couple of inches lift off when used to push at the seat beneath them. The woman, who I assume to be their mother, sits two rows ahead. With a relaxed smile, she turns her head towards the children and soaks in their joy of what I suspect is a new experience.

Behind me, a rather distinguished chap. He wears a flat cap and a matching tweed jacket. If I am not mistaken there is a faint smell of cigar wafting from his direction. I put him in his 80s and admire his…

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Ali Hall

✍Well-being, feminism, personal growth & life observations. Childfree & owner of Life Without Children & Abnormally Normal. Lover of trail running & dogs.