I have always taken special note of birthdays on decades. Before I turned 20, I savored my last days as a teenager. At 30, I noted with some anxiety how fleeting time is, when I still had so many goals. By forty, my life had changed, and I basked in the feelings of “being mature”. Then, at 50, I decided to celebrate by writing Volume 1 of “Quips, Questions, Quotes . . . Reflections on a half-century of life experience” and sending it to my friends. This volume was written as I approached 60. (February, 1999)
Thoughts about legacy seem to increase with age—how do I really want to be remembered? It’s such a great question, we should think about it earlier in life.
Legacy is like a spiral—a great intergenerational gift: what we are is a gift from our elders; we shape and mold it, and leave it as a gift for our families.
Life seems to go better when I remember not to should on myself. It can lead to “ought-ism”, hardening of the “oughteries”, who knows what else?
I went to my 40th high school reunion—my first. It was fascinating to share memories, to see how differently we remembered our shared experiences, and to note how the years have changed —and not changed—each of us. Reunions are like good fertilizer: they stimulate root growth.
“What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?” — Micah
One of the great things about doing difficult and risky things (like wilderness trekking) is that you sometimes exhaust your physical and emotional resources; that’s when you learn how to reach down and get more.
“Everybody gets into situations where we don’t know what to do. The difference between strong people and weak people is that strong people can figure out what to do when they don’t know what to do.” — William Glasser.
I used to think there would be a time in my life when I would be all grown up. Now I realize that being grown up is knowing that I will never be all grown up.
“There is no order of difficulty in miracles.” — A Course in Miracles
It makes a big difference in your life whether you experience the universe as a friendly or an unfriendly place. To what extent do we have a choice in this?
“They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.” — Isaiah
Sam: I continue to think about what I want to do when I grow up as well. I've had fantasies: playing in a rock band; writing a novel; publishing a book of poetry; getting a major piece of legislation passed. Well, here's the reality: I played in a garage band in the 60's that made noise. One of us went on to a professional career as a musician. It wasn't me. I keep waiting for the novel to write itself, but it ain't happened yet, although I've written some rather amusing smart-ass short pieces. I've published one poem in high school which I'm embarrassed to own. I've written many other poems that I've shared with familiy and friends occasionally getting some positive response, but mostly silence. I was able to help pass a major piece of legislation in Utah that related to mental health. So, as you can see, not all fantasies are fulfilled, but some do come true.
ReplyDeleteI don't think I'll ever grow up either. May you stay forever young.
Randy