Enjoying the last light of the day in the personal oasis that is my tiny piece of terra firma (or sometimes not-so-firma, living in earthquake-prone California as I do)... I am searching for some inspiration for a gift to create for someone special, and came upon the phrase that is the title of today's posting.
Aging, mortality, choices, transitions, all these challenges are swirling around in my brain these last several years. I suppose living a Half-Century has something to contribute to this realm of thought. What a gift to make it this far! And my father-in-law is 90 tomorrow. THAT is a celebration! Should everything align properly, we will be celebrating all together this weekend. What a blessed event it will be!
I now have my mantra for this stage of my life: One life. LIVE it. How do I make whatever years, days, months, hours & minutes I have left COUNT? Where do my head, heart, & soul need to be to make it all worthy? and worthwhile?
We experience moments in life when it's all happy, bright and smooth sailing. Then, those big waves come and try to topple our small but sturdy life raft. I recently read Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand, the author of Seabiscuit. Louie Zamperini was aboard a B-24 plane on the way to Japan during WWII and was shot down. He and 2 other men survived over a month in a life raft, only to be captured, then tortured for over 2 years in a Japanese P.O.W. camp, which he also survived. He was on his way to becoming a famous Olympic athlete when the war interrupted his plans. The billboard message that was in my head when I finished the book was: When life throws uncontrollable shift at you, how will you respond?
And, since this is the only life I have, once I think "it," I have to live "it." Or live with it.... whatever "it" is.
IT could be going to school, learning something new, meeting new people, mastering the art of something, taking on a new role, going down an unfamiliar path, in an unfamiliar country, or whatever might be on your own personal bucket list.
This is a poem I wrote awhile ago, but it seems to sum up where "it" is for me at this point in my One Life.
Aging, mortality, choices, transitions, all these challenges are swirling around in my brain these last several years. I suppose living a Half-Century has something to contribute to this realm of thought. What a gift to make it this far! And my father-in-law is 90 tomorrow. THAT is a celebration! Should everything align properly, we will be celebrating all together this weekend. What a blessed event it will be!
I now have my mantra for this stage of my life: One life. LIVE it. How do I make whatever years, days, months, hours & minutes I have left COUNT? Where do my head, heart, & soul need to be to make it all worthy? and worthwhile?
We experience moments in life when it's all happy, bright and smooth sailing. Then, those big waves come and try to topple our small but sturdy life raft. I recently read Unbroken by Lauren Hillenbrand, the author of Seabiscuit. Louie Zamperini was aboard a B-24 plane on the way to Japan during WWII and was shot down. He and 2 other men survived over a month in a life raft, only to be captured, then tortured for over 2 years in a Japanese P.O.W. camp, which he also survived. He was on his way to becoming a famous Olympic athlete when the war interrupted his plans. The billboard message that was in my head when I finished the book was: When life throws uncontrollable shift at you, how will you respond?
And, since this is the only life I have, once I think "it," I have to live "it." Or live with it.... whatever "it" is.
IT could be going to school, learning something new, meeting new people, mastering the art of something, taking on a new role, going down an unfamiliar path, in an unfamiliar country, or whatever might be on your own personal bucket list.
This is a poem I wrote awhile ago, but it seems to sum up where "it" is for me at this point in my One Life.
~Aging Gracefully~
Oh, Pain!
You are my constant friend,
I feel you with me
Standing up straight and whenever I bend.
Oh, Teeth!
Gums receding as the tide,
Taking crowns, caps, and nightguards
Along for the ride.
Oh, Boobs!
All I can do is stand there
and cry, cry, cry.
Oh, Belly!
My joys in life are few:
Food, wine, and laughter with friends.
But why must you remind me
I'll pay for it in the end?
Oh, Death!
Every-present and lurking closer each day.
Searching for the path called:
"Aging the Graceful Way."
Oh, Joy!
Thankful for the infinite blessings
That I delightfully experience,
And for which my grateful heart sings.
Oh, Pain!
You are my constant friend,
I feel you with me
Standing up straight and whenever I bend.
Oh, Teeth!
Gums receding as the tide,
Taking crowns, caps, and nightguards
Along for the ride.
Oh, Boobs!
All I can do is stand there
and cry, cry, cry.
Oh, Belly!
My joys in life are few:
Food, wine, and laughter with friends.
But why must you remind me
I'll pay for it in the end?
Oh, Death!
Every-present and lurking closer each day.
Searching for the path called:
"Aging the Graceful Way."
Oh, Joy!
Thankful for the infinite blessings
That I delightfully experience,
And for which my grateful heart sings.
One Life. Live It.
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