Of late I’ve been consumed with thinking about this time of my life and trying to stay conscious and present with all the emotions, the concerns, and the delights that arrive. At 75, my body ages, following its normal biological design. No need to argue with, or deny, the facts. At this moment, I’m not liking “being attached” to a walker, even though it’s less about age than the residue of illness, and my daily attempts to divest myself of this aid are beginning to bear fruit. On the other hand, I am really liking feeling so young in spirit, grateful to be useful, and to be able to enjoy my glorious and refreshing summer swims. Continue reading
Clarity and choice revisited
Sometimes I just want us (me and others) to dare to say we want.
In the dressing room at the Y, I overheard two young women chatting about the wedding one of them was planning. The one about to be married was worried about bridesmaids dresses and asking for advice from her friend, who had a lot to say from her own experience of being a recent bridesmaid. It seemed to be a conversation fraught with difficulty. Sensing the bride’s frustration trying to meet everyone’s needs, I poked my head out of the stall and offered: “This sounds complicated.” The bride sighed at all the decisions she was having to make and said, “This IS getting complicated. I don’t think I want to get married.”
I continued to participate in my own no nonsense way. “Have you thought of making it simpler and doing what’s more easy and fun for you and your fiance..” she immediately finished my sentence, “….instead of what everyone else wants?” Continue reading
There is a path…here’s one
Meg Wheatley has written a short and inspirational book entitled Perseverance (2010), inspired by those who struggle to keep going through these times of uncertainty, difficulty, injustice, and occasional insanity.
Today, I stopped and found some nourishment from her words. Continue reading