"Perhaps I am not practicing for anything. Perhaps I am simply practicing being alive, being present to whatever comes, whether it is beauty or breaking or the long stretch of ordinary days between."
After many decades riding the waves of life I have concluded that we need to embrace both the good stuff and the not-so-much. Each brings new experiences, opportunities for growth and sometimes joy, and lessons for living life more fully if we are receptive.
An important guy in my life was diagnosed with leukemia. While we were already sensitive to deliberately choosing how to live life given our advanced ages, this medical news has created a greater urgency to find special moments each and every day. We are dancing more, visiting new places, incorporating art, and cuddling lots. Don't know how many years we still have ahead but that's not the point. It's today and tomorrow that matter the most.
I will be thinking of you too as you continue practicing being alive -- each and every day :)
Oh my dearest Maggie. That is hard news… and I am so glad that it is only deepening the special bond you have together. A friend of mine back west met her husband later in life… they were only married a few years before cancer took him. I can honesty say I’ve never seen two people love each other that much. Like they had 50 years crammed into less than a handful. It was an honor to witness and brought joy to us all.
Keep dancing my dearest friend… in the sun, in rain, in the snow and everything in between. Thank you for always sharing so openly. I love you and am thinking of you too xxxx
My relationship with D is good and special is so many ways. But it is not the deep romance that I think you are envisioning.
We've both endured hardships that many people cannot relate to. As a result we understand each other better than most can. We offer each other the chance to put the puzzle pieces of our lives together and make sense of it all - that is difficult to do on your own. And we have lots of fun and laughter too in order to balance out the deep soul searching.
D. was a professional artist earlier in life. However, he gave up drawing and painting when it became too painful to put his craft on display. With our deep connection and his desire to make my birthday special, D put his toes into that neglected water again. He drew me a sketch of a building he saw on his recent trip to Instanbul. While he didn't think it was perfect, I told him I thought it was...and I meant it.
“Perhaps what I am learning is that faith reformed is not faith diminished. It is faith that knows the ice can crack, that surfaces can deceive, that solid ground is actually never guaranteed, and chooses to walk forward anyway.” GORGEOUS.
"Perhaps I am not practicing for anything. Perhaps I am simply practicing being alive, being present to whatever comes, whether it is beauty or breaking or the long stretch of ordinary days between."
After many decades riding the waves of life I have concluded that we need to embrace both the good stuff and the not-so-much. Each brings new experiences, opportunities for growth and sometimes joy, and lessons for living life more fully if we are receptive.
An important guy in my life was diagnosed with leukemia. While we were already sensitive to deliberately choosing how to live life given our advanced ages, this medical news has created a greater urgency to find special moments each and every day. We are dancing more, visiting new places, incorporating art, and cuddling lots. Don't know how many years we still have ahead but that's not the point. It's today and tomorrow that matter the most.
I will be thinking of you too as you continue practicing being alive -- each and every day :)
Oh my dearest Maggie. That is hard news… and I am so glad that it is only deepening the special bond you have together. A friend of mine back west met her husband later in life… they were only married a few years before cancer took him. I can honesty say I’ve never seen two people love each other that much. Like they had 50 years crammed into less than a handful. It was an honor to witness and brought joy to us all.
Keep dancing my dearest friend… in the sun, in rain, in the snow and everything in between. Thank you for always sharing so openly. I love you and am thinking of you too xxxx
Thank you Jane. I love you too xxxxx
My relationship with D is good and special is so many ways. But it is not the deep romance that I think you are envisioning.
We've both endured hardships that many people cannot relate to. As a result we understand each other better than most can. We offer each other the chance to put the puzzle pieces of our lives together and make sense of it all - that is difficult to do on your own. And we have lots of fun and laughter too in order to balance out the deep soul searching.
D. was a professional artist earlier in life. However, he gave up drawing and painting when it became too painful to put his craft on display. With our deep connection and his desire to make my birthday special, D put his toes into that neglected water again. He drew me a sketch of a building he saw on his recent trip to Instanbul. While he didn't think it was perfect, I told him I thought it was...and I meant it.
“Perhaps what I am learning is that faith reformed is not faith diminished. It is faith that knows the ice can crack, that surfaces can deceive, that solid ground is actually never guaranteed, and chooses to walk forward anyway.” GORGEOUS.