“The time has come, the walrus said, to talk of many things…”
I’ve been experiencing some of those many things over July and August of this year. You probably have your own list.
For instance, there’s joy in the fact that in my senior living community, the mask requirement has been removed. But it’s coupled with the deep sadness, anger, and anxiety at those who have refused to vaccinate in a time when the delta variant is spreading everywhere, and hospitals are in overwhelm. The mask requirement may return as the death roll rises due to the failure of many in our nation to cooperate.
In August, with great happiness, I welcomed a visit from my former Peace Corps partner in Colombia (from 58 years ago). A week later I was in shock and tears learning of her heart failure and death upon returning to her Cartagena, Colombia home.
In addition, I am just tired. I feel the declines of advancing age and the impact of the onslaught of political polarization affecting all of us (abortion, voting rights, climate change, inequalities of all sorts).
As the ups and downs of personal and national confusion invade my life, I find myself concurrently reflecting on my 81 years on the planet. I am determined to celebrate this life that is mine. September, 2021 has become, the “If not now, when?” moment. Continuing my efforts to provide more documentation to the Who Was Aunt Martha Anyway? life history contribution for our Family Archives, I’m preparing a video about the professional Glory Years of my 40’s and 50’s. It was then when my work with Thought Selection was thriving, the popular Breakthrough Program had been created, and my Growth Dynamics business was flourishing. Old video tape highlights of these special times simply must be saved.
Those Glory Years eventually came to an end, (or perhaps I should say a move to Massachusetts from Washington, DC, a major illness, and a divorce inaugurated the next, and also interesting and growth producing, phase of my life.) Right now, however, my memories of those “Glory Years” deserve savoring.
The walrus was right…there are many things to talk about and we can go beyond the “shoes—and ships—and sealing-wax—of cabbages—and kings…”. Poet Lewis Carroll
What are the many things in your life over the last two years which have been challenging, despairing, tiring, or all three? During these times, none of us need feel alone in that space of fear and not-knowing.
However, I invite you to also notice, and talk about, the moments of joy, hope, possibility, love, and emerging clarity about what’s important, and what’s next.
For me, taking time to stop and reflect has brought some welcome insights.