For meOne of the gifts of aging is learning to appreciate my everyday.
No longer do I feel the need to race to be moredo moreacquire more.
I have enough experience and wisdom to appreciate my everydayToday.
Because I know my everydaywon't even always be what it is today.
My youngest sonwon't always be returning from a very early shift at UPShome for breakfastbefore leaving for another day at college.Making his breakfast andspending quality time in that houris an everyday event that I am now old enough and wise enough
to cherish.
I plan my days around this opportunity.
I am cognitiveof the blessing it isthat I can drive over and visit my parents.I am ever so cognitive of time.
I am gratefulfor my conversations with my girlafter her day at workand the luxury of spending time with herin her new city.
I am happy for Friday night dates with my husbandand
coming full circle to going out together once again.
I still have days where loneliness
and
missing
my old life
as a full time mother
come thundering in.
So very often they seem out of the blue.
An aching and sadness
that can take my breath away
in an emptiness I never saw coming.
But I have learned
to stop
and
acknowledge the grief
let it runs its hard pounding currents of grief through me
because I have learned by now
it will pass
and
denying it's existence
only expands it's visit.
I realize it is another grief
that can't be packed away
in a box to be checked
taken care of for good.
I have learned to make a place for grief
because sometimes it is in the darkness
we find new lights.
I try to encourage griefs departure
by refocusing
on the good
in my everyday
today.
To focus on gratitude
for even the flicking summer light and breeze.
I am savor time working in my gardens ...
because how hopeful is planning and plantingfor what is yet to be.
I am even savoring house choresalways so gratefulfor this little house that I cherish.
I had decided this week to take a week off from workand have some summer fun.And every timeI thought I could go out and do …
I realized how much of a luxury it can be to stay homeand be fully present in savoring my day to day.
Some days savoring the simple, slow aspects of my lifecan be a truly beautiful thing.
And by doing soI realize how much new joyI can get out of my new everyday.
Taking the time to be presentmakes me so very gratefulof my everydayToday.
Just as it is.
The older I getI realizeit is truly the small momentsthat are the big moments.
It is truly savoringtime with family and friendswith no agenda or expectationjustbeing togetherwhere so much of my life's riches come.
And it is often time alone that is just as importantto reflectandbe gratefulfor my day to day.
Today.
As always my friends
I wish you love and joy
as you style your life
