A Coat of Many Colors

A coat of many colors. 

Carrie Bloomston, artist and author of the book, The Little Spark tells the story about how a friend of hers encouraged her to take off her coat. Now she wasn't talking about a literal coat, but rather about how at some point in our life we put on an identity that doesn't belong to us, and continue to wear it as if it did. 

"Whose coat are you wearing?" are the words of Jan McCool, friend of Bloomston. She cautions us not to continue wearing a coat that doesn't fit. I think for me I put on that first ill-fitting coat at adolescence when I desperately wanted to be just like everyone else. 

The interesting thing is that although the coat is uncomfortable after a while you just stop noticing. It becomes such a part of you that you can't imagine removing it. Infact, if you did you would feel quite exposed because you'd have no idea what to replace it with. 

I've become intrigued with this idea as I ask myself the same questions. Whose coat am I wearing, and if it's mine? As I reflect on the things that I assume make-up who I am I'm wondering if they actually fit or not, or if I've just gotten so comfortable in that old coat not to notice anymore?

Bloomston reminds us, " You must disrupt your normal patterns so you can see the world with new eyes." It might be time to make sure I'm wearing the right coat. 

Doggy Daycare

Doggy Daycare. 

Yes, it's a real thing. Recently, I dropped Cooper off for his grooming appointment. The first time I arrived I couldn't help but notice a room full of dogs chasing each other around. 

My first inclination was that they were being boarded, and this was an opportunity for them to stretch their legs. After inquiring I was informed that these dogs were actually there for doggy daycare. I couldn't believe there really was such a thing, and wondered who would in the world would pay their hard earned money on daycare for their dog?

Each time I returned I began to notice the clientele who was dropping their dogs off. Let's just say I wasn't seeing anyone my age doing so. When I worked my dogs stayed home unattended while I was off bringing home the dog bones. Often times, my dogs spent their days sleeping in their kennel. I guess by today's standards they were kind of like the latchkey kids of the past. 

As I drove home I thought about how dogs survived back when I was a child. Of course, most moms were at home, but dogs rarely if ever made it into the house. You've heard the term sleeping in the  doghouse, well dogs actually did just that. Some had free reign of the neighborhood, and others were basically tied up all day. 

When I thought about the concept of someone dropping their dog off each day for a fee I found it quite brilliant that someone had come up with the idea in the first place. Kind of like selling a cup of coffee for five dollars. What was it that P.T. Barnum used to say?

Each time I take Cooper to the groomer I assure him how lucky he is to have a stay-at-home mom so he doesn't have to attend daycare. I think I just dodged a financial bullet on that one. 

Breaking the Rules

Breaking the rules. 

I'm a rule follower. I always have been. Being the first born, a people pleaser, and a six on the enneagram all make me somewhat fearful of doing things wrong, and worst of all getting in trouble. 

I remember once going out for the day with Chuck. I really can't remember all the circumstances, but he pointed out how much fun we were going to have because "we were breaking all the rules." I thought about it for a minute, and replied that I didn't think breaking the rules was anything I would enjoy. As a matter of fact the anxiety of rule breaking was no fun at all. 

Now mind you, Chuck and I were not on our way off to rob a bank or anything. Heck rule breaking might have been all about sleeping late, and eating brunch instead of lunch. Who knows because we do live a pretty predictable life, mostly thanks to me. 

I will admit after living in an apartment for a year you really do bare the consequences of the rule breakers. Having to dodge piles of poop for those who dont pick up after their dog got old quickly. For those too lazy to walk their trash down to the trash receptacles, and left it out on the curb to be picked up by maintenance just didn't seem right. Having to endure late night vacuuming after hours was just another example of how not following the rules affected others. 

However, recently I came across another perspective on rule breaking. It had to do with creativity, and breaking your own rules. As a civilized society we do needs rules for group living, but what about those self-imposed rules that may be standing in the way to a more creative life? 

Artist and author of The Little Spark, Carrie Bloomston recommends, "Do lots of unexpected things. Surprise yourself. Break your own rules. Leave the trail behind you. Bypass your patterns and routines."

Now as a creative person who clings to rules as a safety net, the idea of breaking my own rules seems somewhat easier. I suppose if I get in trouble it will essentially be with myself, and I think I'd be okay with that. Nothing like assigning myself a hundred "I will not" sentences if things go awry. 

Five, Six Pick Up Sticks

Five, six pick up sticks. 

As I sat on the porch watching my grandson this weekend I couldn't help but be impressed as he did his job. It began with a quick once over of the front yard with his kid-sized lawn mower. After a few minutes he stopped to survey his work, and noticed that several new branches had fallen the night before from the pecan tree. 

He picked up the largest and walked it over to the open bed of his Dad's pickup truck. He swung the stick quite confidently into the truck bed, and made his way back for another. This same motion continued about four or five times as he made his way back and forth picking up sticks along the way. 

Eventually, the sticks were so small that he bent down, and gathered several of them at once before depositing them in the truck. What amazed me the most was that this was all done completely on his own without any prompting by me. He saw that a job was needed and he stepped up to do it. 

Now the first question I have is what two year old even thinks this way?  I had seen a bundle of sticks he had collected before, and noticed the pride he took in pointing them out to me. I had also seen him help his Dad chunk the sticks into a hole in the back pasture. He actually did a great job, and never complained once about the task. 

My grandson accompanies my son-in-law to work a few times a week in the afternoon. He takes his work quite seriously. Infact, the last time he went he ran into his parents' room to get a tube of chapstick just like his Dad, and asked my daughter to get him a cooler to bring as well. 

This boy loves his Dad, and emulates him every chance he gets. I'd say he's one lucky boy. 

Savoring Anticipation

Savoring anticipation. 

Remember when you were a kid looking forward to Christmas and your birthday? Those generally were the only two times out of the year that you received gifts. You would anticipate opening that present from the moment you wrote it down in your letter to Santa all the way through a sleepless Christmas Eve. 

Today we live in an instant society. There are very few things we have to wait upon. Between Amazon's two hour delivery, instant book and movie downloads, and credit we get most everything we want when we want it. 

Professor Harold Schweitzer, author of Waiting (Thinking in Action) states, "Things and experiences gain value when you have to wait for them. Instant gratification makes them worth less."

If this is true, and I think it is, then maybe allowing yourself to wait a little for something might make it more meaningful. Before credit was so available people utilized layaway as a way to make payments on something before they actually took possession of the item.  Each time you returned to the store to pay more toward your purchase the anticipation and excitement grew. 

Today when we pretty much can have what we want without much waiting we might find a collection of books sitting on our end table waiting to be read. Or maybe a closet full of clothes that still have tags hanging on them. Today we have so much that nothing really is that special anymore because we know that it can be easily replaced. 

Maybe just for fun put off that purchase for a few days, and savor the anticipation along the way. 

Growing Old

Growing old.

To be honest, in the past I never really gave too much thought to getting old. Of course I figured I would probably grow old because longevity seemed to run in the family, but I never really gave much thought to what that entailed. 

I think I assumed that somehow I'd dodge the throws of aging, and somehow maintain my youthful appearance, and abilities. Of course, when we learned about Dad's dementia my eyes were completely opened to the realities of growing older. 

Dad really did well up until his early eighties. It became apparent that he was slowing down a little by his mid-eighties, but never in my wildest dreams would I have thought that he would spend the last two years of his life in memory care. 

I came across a documentary the other day about a remarkable woman named Flossie Lewis. She was 102 and not in great physical health as you can imagine, but her mental clarity was remarkable. She was a former high school teacher, and a real rebel at that. Part of the documentary showed her and her former students, now aging baby boomers themselves, meeting once again in their old classroom. 

Flossie's teaching style came alive as she questioned and challenged her former students. Although, her body was crippled with arthritis, her mind had remained as sharp and analytical as before. Her philosophy was, "Getting old is a state of mind."

As we age none are spared, but obsessing over what is the natural order of things does not seem to be too productive. Living in the future world of what might just be takes up valuable real estate when it comes to the present. 

I suppose each future year will bring something new in the aging process, but watching Flossie interact with her students really inspired me.

If you'd like I've included the story of Flossie below. 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/brief/271166/flossie-lewis

Corny Detective Shows

Corny detective shows. 

(Photo of Harriet the Spy drawn by a ten year old me.)

My love of detective shows goes way back. I cut my teeth on The Man From U.N.C.L.E, The Girl From U.N.C.L.E. ( I wanted to be April Dancer )

 and Honey West.  Throw in Perry Mason, and Nancy Drew,  and I was in detective heaven during the sixties. 

What I've found over the last fifty or so years is that I still love detective shows, except not the realistic ones. Give me Murder She Wrote, Father Dowling, Cold Case, Castle, and now a new show called Take Two and I'm perfectly content reliving my childhood obsession.

As I watch them I know that justice will always prevail, the good guy will win, and the bad guy will be caught in the end. As predictable as it all might be I like living in that little fantasy world of all's well that ends well. 

As much as I dreamed about being a detective back in the day, it became apparent around the age of thirteen that I craved safety and security way too much to put myself into harm's way. Sometimes I've looked back at this with regret wishing I was different. 

However, I've learned over the years that we all are graced with our own temperament, and trying to be someone we are not usually doesn't end well. So for now I'll continue to be an armchair detective enjoying my corny detective shows all the while anticipating a new detective show coming out this fall with Nathan Fillion (Castle) called The Rookie.

Beautiful Moments

Beautiful moments. 

When was the last time you had a beautiful moment?  I'm thinking for me it might have been getting to spend time with my grandsons. Between the two of them I find myself laughing and smiling a lot. 

I'm reading a unique type of book entitled, A Book That Takes Its Time: An Unhurried Adventure in Creative Mindfulness, by authors Irene Smit and Astrid van der Hulst. This is an inspiring collection of essays and hands-on activities to inspire creativity. 

One of the sections includes pull-out Beautiful Moment cards. The authors believe, "...that allowing ourselves to enjoy the beautiful, spontaneous moments of our lives is the real key to happiness."

So similar to a gratitude jar they suggest recording these beautiful moments, and collecting them in a Beautiful Moments Jar. Each card is dated, and would be a fun way to look back over the prior year. 

The key according to the authors is to make time for those "beautiful moments" instead of putting them off with your list of "important" things to do. Take your cue from an almost three year old who spends his day going from one beautiful moment to the next. 

Although, ideally beautiful moments may tend to be more spontaneous, author Gretchen Rubin recommends writing them down on your calendar. Making time to do the things you love, and valuing them as important, might make you more inclined to seek out more of those beautiful moments. 

Drawn Back to Nature

Drawn back to nature. 

I can't actually say that I prefer country living to city living. What I do know, though, is that I am drawn to nature. When I spend time outdoors, especially around water I just feel more motivated and refreshed. 

With the return of a little cooler weather I was able to return to my old apartment complex for a walk around the lake yesterday. It's beauty and peacefulness did not disappoint. There was a nice breeze, and I was happy to be out enjoying it again. 

As usual, there was plenty of animal life to observe. The list included a dove, a Blue Herron, both dragon and damsel flies (shades of seventh grade life science and my first insect collection), a pretty good sized turtle sticking his head up out of the water.

One thing I've just realized is that there were no ducks. I'm thinking the heat was just too much for them, and they will probably make their way back this fall. However, I did see a new bird I had not seen before that was tiny and bright yellow. It really wasn't much larger than a hummingbird, but it was hard to capture with my camera as it quickly flew from tree to tree. 

I've got a message in to a jr. high school friend of mine who along with his wife has taken up birding, and posts regularly the birds that inhabit the area around his home.  I'm thinking that he might be able to identify this little guy. 

The beauty of nature can be found all around the city if you just look in the right places. Grapevine has a beautiful botanical garden with free admission, and Southlake's Town Center has an inviting fountain. Now that we are getting a reprieve from the hottest of summer weather I'm going to make sure to spend more time in nature, even if it's just sitting out on the back porch enjoying the breeze. 

"In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks."

John Muir

A Few Things

A few things. 

Bai- If you haven't tried this drink yet it's really quite refreshing. My favorite flavors so far are blueberry and pomegranate. I'm looking for caffeine free alternatives, and this seems to be hitting the spot. 

Aloe Vera- My last Aloe Vera plant bit the dust when I inadvertently left it out last winter. I had not replaced it, and wished I had when I burnt my finger while cooking the other day. I made a point to pick one up on my next trip to Walmart. This time he'll make his home inside ready for any other cooking injury that might come my way. 

Cosmic Cafe- Chuck and I tried out this vegetarian eatery on Oak Lawn this past Saturday. I had a pretty yummy bean burger all the while experiencing sensory overload by the unique decor. It's a fun place to grab a bite to eat. 

Bella- I used my Kohl's gift card that I received for my birthday to buy a Bella hot air popcorn popper. I had been popping my popcorn in a brown lunch bag, but this gem does a much better job, and the kernels pop moister and fluffier. I spritz it with a little olive oil, add salt, and my non-dairy Parmesan. 

Rain- It looks like another rainy day, which is actually a welcome change during these hot summer days. 

Friday

Friday. 

I must be having a whole lot of fun because time is just flying by. How can it already be Friday?

And along those lines how can it already be August, and half way through August at that? How can I be starting my tenth year of retirement, and how is it possible that if I were eligible I could already be collecting Social Security?

The weeks just seem to fly by, and although there was a time in my life when I would have welcomed that, now I wish things would just slow down. My oldest grandson is just a few months from being three, and the six month old is determined to set the Guiness Book of World Records for youngest baby to walk. 

As much as I try to embrace the moment, those moments are passing by in the blink of an eye. In the last few days I've seen so many of my friends' children reaching milestones as they begin kindergarten, enter middle or high school, or are off to college. 

Don't take any of those moments for granted because just like Friday you will close your eyes for just a moment, and it will all just be a far away memory. Treasure these days. 

Memory Lane

Memory Lane. 

Yesterday felt like a trip down Memory Lane. 

Before closing on the farm we made one last trip to Wolfe City to say goodbye. The Rocking H had been a part of our life for ten years, and that season was coming to an end. 

We stopped for lunch at Posadas in Frisco, and decided to take a tour of the homes we had lived in over the last thirty years plus years. 

We began in Celina where we first lived after getting married. We lived in an apartment that first year, and then built a small home where we lived for the next seven years. That was the home that we had brought Brittany home to, and the place where we had began our life together. 

It was amazing how the neighbor itself looked pretty much the same, but the drive up Preston Road, or 289 as it was referred to then had changed dramatically. It looks like Prosper was trying to keep up with her big sister Frisco. 

We lived in two homes in Frisco. One for a little over five years, and then our home that we recently, sold for eighteen years. Frisco is barely recognizable now as it has exploded into a large city. There was only one elementary school for the entire town when I first began teaching there in 1985. 

We had a fun day reminiscing, and laughing, but to be honest I did find myself on the verge of tears thinking about the farm. Life really can be bittersweet at times. 

However, I'm very happy in our new home, and love our new location. Luckily I'm close enough to the Frisco area that I can still meet a friend for lunch like I did the other day.

I'm enjoying today, and am looking forward to what to tomorrow might bring. 

Beginning Again

Beginning again. 

I came across a book the other day at the library that looks like one I'd like to own for myself. If you are retired, newly or not, and are looking for a "course" of sorts, you might want to consider this. 

Julia Cameron's, It's Never Too Late to Begin Again: Discovering Creativity and Meaning at Midlife and Beyond, is a 12 week course that is described as a, "... fun, gentle, step-by-step process that will help you explore your creative dreams, wishes, and desires-and help you quickly find that it's never too late to begin again."

I was thinking I might start this program, which is based on Cameron's first book, The Artisit's Way, in September. Using some of the same tools, but also including a memoir component, Cameron teaches one new concept per week. This idea of 12 weeks fits in beautifully with the 12 Week Year that I mentioned recently on my blog. 

I'm including a link to the book if it sounds like something you might be interested in reading. 

https://www.amazon.com/Its-Never-Late-Begin-Again/dp/0399174214

"Retirement is a time to tackle projects and unlock dreams, a time to revisit the past and explore the unknown. It is a time to design our future."

Julia Cameron

The Incredible Standing Baby

The incredible standing baby. 

I've written before about my very determined youngest grandson and his incredible strength. From the time he was just two months old he was struggling to sit up. It was almost impossible to change his diaper as he spent the entire time doing crunches. 

He is already crawling, and has been since he was five months old. He has been pulling up quite regularly except that he's had no balance up to now. Well apparently that has changed. 

My daughter turned around yesterday, and her six month old was standing on his own. His back was to the couch, and it appeared that his bottom was in contact with it, but he was pretty much doing it all by himself. 

Apparently, the two year old was taken aback when he rounded the corner, and saw his little brother standing upright. I asked my daughter how he got down from his standing position, and she said they were all too shocked at seeing a six month old stand that no one remembered. 

He will turn seven months in a week, and I'm laying money that he might be walking at the end of the month. That's one strong and determined kid!

The Last Load

The last load. 

Well it's official. We have sold the farm and will be closing this week. That's actually an interesting term, because that is exactly what is happening as we are closing the chapter of the last ten years. 

We loved the farm, and were so excited to purchase it. Chuck devoted many hours to its improvement, and we were quite pleased at how nice it looked when we put it on the market. For a period of time we had a small herd of cattle, and enjoyed learning all about these interesting creatures. As I think back, and look at pictures we took along the way I'm happy that the farm was part of our life. 

Since April we have been working hard on clearing out the place, and this past weekend the last load left with our son-in-law. He, Chuck, and our friend disassembled the corral and loaded it on to a flat bed trailer to be moved to our daughter and son-in-law's home. Will is planning on running cattle at his place so we were happy that the corral found a new home there. 

As far as the future is concerned, well that all remains to be seen. We feel certain that being closer to our family is a high priority. It just didn't make sense to retire so far away. For now, we still have a garage full of stuff to go through, but we pretty much are waiting for a reprieve from the weather. 

Life really is a series of opened and closed doors, and we feel fortunate that we had our small piece of the country in Wolfe City for as long as we did. 

What Can I Learn?

What can I learn?

I was watching a video the other day on You Tube where the presenter made reference to something she had learned from life coach Marie Forleo. It had to do with shifting your mindset, which is something I've written about before. 

Each time you are presented with an opportunity switch your mindset from, "I already know this." to "What can I learn from this?"

Having this kind of mindset allows you to be more open to new ideas. Although, I have an understanding of the new Weight Watcher Freestyle program, I still enjoy attending the meetings where most of the time I come away with some new bit of information that I didn't know before. 

This week we talked about habits using the model designed by the author of The Power of Habit, Charles Duhigg. He contends that there is a habit loop, and that if you recognize the cue you can change the action. 

I had gotten in the habit of having a piece of Dove chocolate after my afternoon popcorn break. Now this might not sound so bad, except I was having a second piece after dinner. Their combined value was six points which really dug into my daily points allowance. 

I realized my cue was popcorn, and apparently after eating something salty I was craving something sweet. One of the strategies in Weight Watchers is to substitute one choice with another in order to remain on plan. My leader suggested trying some Lilly's chocolate chips instead. For one point I could have thirty individual chips. 

Her solution sounded good as I was not having to totally eliminate the sweet treat from my afternoon routine. I was also happy that I had not skipped over the meeting thinking that I had nothing else left to learn. 

Be open to the possibilities, but also approach those opportunities with an open mind asking yourself, "What can I learn?"

The Paint by Number Life

The paint by number life. 

Attorney Brittan Heller believes that there are two ways to think about your life. It's either a paint by number one or a connect the dots approach. 

I couldn't help but think about how this idea related to my life, and the choices I have made along the way.  I think when I was first starting out my adult life I felt a security in the paint by number approach. One of my good friends made the comment that I seemed to have my whole life planned out without question. 

I may have had plans, but they couldn't have gone more awry. Although, I just assumed that I would be painting in the numbers, my life really took more of a dot to dot  approach. 

Not that I've done anything extremely out of the ordinary along the way, but I've never been one to have the five year plan. On the flip side I've taken advantage of opportunities that have come my way connecting the dots as I've gone along. Paint by number might seem more secure, but even a paint by number life might have room for some dot connecting.

Interestingly, I actually remember when I figured out how dot to dots worked when I was in first grade. This aha moment resulted in understanding the pattern of numbers. Up until now I really hadn't thought much about the two different approaches, but I'm thinking the dot to dot life has been more fun. 

The Dog Days of Summer

The dog days of summer. 

You've heard the term cabin fever before, and I think I have it. Of course, you generally think of this phenomenon happening in the dead of winter in a cabin in the remote woods of Minnesota.

August in Texas is the polar opposite, but no less brutal. Especially, when you have a summer like this that will be remembered as the Summer of 2018, kind of like the Summer of 1981 or 1997. These are the summers where the temperature hovers well above one hundred for days on end. 

The result being that you find yourself moving from your air conditioned home, to your air conditioned car, to your air conditioned next destination. Even early mornings and late at night cling to temperatures in the nineties. After June and July you pretty much want to scream when August gets here. 

The resulting consequences for me is an extremely unmotivated person, who struggles to exercise, eat right, and can't get too excited about anything. Just like Seasonal Affective Disorder where not enough sunlight is available I've got Darn Too Hot Disorder, and I'm none too happy about it!

Looking forward to fall, and hoping it's not too hot as well. 

Honey Ambassador

Honey Ambassador.

I've got a new title to add to my resume-Nature Nate's Honeybee Team. 

I recently was contacted by the company asking if I might be interested in spreading the word about Nature Nate's honey. I loved the idea and responded quickly to their invitation to "bee" an ambassador for their great product. 

When we made the decision to start eating whole foods, we discovered Nature Nate's raw and unfiltered honey.  We have been using Nature Nate's for over a year primarily in our tea, although Chuck really likes adding it to his steel-cut oats. Come to find out all honey is not created equal when it comes to its nutritional value. 

Nature Nate's is raw and unfiltered, no artificial anything, and because it is unprocessed it maintains its nutritional goodness. Nature Nate's also promotes a program geared toward elementary aged students educating them on the importance of maintaining a healthy bee population. 

As an ambassador I've been given a plethora of individual honey packets to share with my friends, family, and even strangers I meet along the way. We like to buy the big bottle of honey from Sam's as it is a great price, but I've also found it at Walmart and Sprouts, but it looks like you can find it almost every grocery store in our area. 

If you haven't tried it yet I highly recommend giving it a try. If our paths cross I'll have a sample to share with you. 

"Thy Word is sweeter than honey."

Psalm 119:1

(Found on the Nature Nate's honey bottle)

Todd the Toad

Todd the toad.

One of the perks of country living is the wildlife. My two year old grandson has become very intrigued by the different insects and animals that make their way to his home. 

Perhaps his favorite is a toad he has affectionately named Todd ( I think after one of his Dad's friends.) Todd was discovered one night sitting on their front porch. He was HUGE, and a little daunting at first. In the morning Todd was no where to be seen, but he would appear each night like clockwork. 

It wasn't long before Todd's daytime home was discovered. He had made his humble abode in the water faucet box in the garden. It was the perfect place for him and a couple of his frog buddies to hang out during the heat of the day. 

Cool and damp, and somewhat protected by the plastic cover no one was the wiser that it had become a toad and frog hotel. Now each time I visit I make sure to greet Todd and check out his new digs. He's a man of few words, but considering his size does a good job of keeping down the insect population. 

Living in the country is kind of like a big science experiment for nature lovers. I'm excited my two grandsons get to be a part of such a fun upbringing. 

Shift Your Thinking

Shift your thinking. 

I've just started a very intriguing book by Brian P. Morgan and Michael Lennington entitled, The 12 Week Year. Now I can't wait to learn more about the concept of dividing a traditional fifty-two week year into four twelve week years, but for now I want to talk about the idea of shifting your thinking. 

Morgan and Lennington state, " When you focus on changing your actions, you experience incremental improvements; however when your thinking shifts-everything changes."

This idea as they say "blew my mind," as I began to think through the ramifications of how life altering this could be. How many times have we attempted to change our habits, by changing our actions? Recently, I wrote about the cyclical nature of change, and how eventually we find ourselves relapsing. 

The reason being is that at our core we are still the same, and we can only change those habits for so long before they come creeping back. This is when we might find ourselves throwing up our hands, and saying forget it. 

About four years ago I made the decision to stop drinking Diet Coke. My thinking had shifted after reading and realizing that my short term memory was somewhat compromised by the artificial sweetener in the drink. I had reached the point where I was so tired of not being able to remember what I had just done two minutes ago, that I knew something had to change. 

Although, I drank at least one Diet Coke a day giving them up was almost effortless, and I haven't had one since. I wish I could say the same about some other food choices in my life. I've done a good job of establishing better habits, but my thinking hasn't really shifted enough to make eating healthy second nature. 

I rely more on self-discipline which over time will wane. My thinking now is that by shifting my thinking I might have better results. Of course, how to do that might be the next question? As much as I enjoy eating I must say that "food for thought" always motivates me toward personal growth. I look forward to reading more about this idea. 

"Live Simply, Savor Everything"

"Live Simply, Savor Everything"

I had an opportunity this week you have lunch with some friends who I have known since junior high. One was in town, and had sent out a text inviting us all to meet her for lunch the next day at La Madeline.

As luck would have it we were all able to make it. We agreed that if it wasn't for Face Book we  probably would have not been meeting together that day for lunch. We had been able to stay connected through the use of social media. We knew about each other's children and grandchildren through our postings. 

While in line to get my drink I noticed the words, "Live Simply, Savor Everthing," was displayed on the drink dispenser. I found it quite appropriate as we broke bread, and shared events from both past and present. Our lunch stretched out over several hours as we laughed, and shared more personal struggles in our life. 

It's funny how decades have passed since we were in each other's lives daily, but we seemed to pick up right where we left off. When it was time to leave we exchanged phone numbers, and took a photo to capture the moment in time. 

Along with learning French when I visited the restroom that day, I also learned to savor the simple things in life. 

Slow

Slow. 

Most of the time life is hurried. I remember when my daughter was younger, and I taught full time trying to juggle all the demands on my plate. Now mind you, this was with only one child, so I can only imagine how my friends with multiple children must have felt. 

Dinner was a quick and easy twenty minute throw together, checks were written for bills on the fly while heading out the door for work, and weekends were all about household chores, and laundry. I can honestly say I never had a moment to complain about being bored. 

Author Brooke McAlary has recently written the book Slow: Simple Living for a Frantic World. She tells her own story of the changes she made to be more present in her life, and in the life of her children. Simple things like taking time to play hide and seek when asked by her girls have helped her prioritize what is really important. 

One of the turning points in her attitude toward her hurriedness was taking the time to write her eulogy. This is not a new idea, but might be a way to gage whether you are living the life you really want. 

I think, actually, that you should write at least two. Write the one that best describes your life today, and then the one you might wish you had lived. Which would you want published as a record of your time here on earth?

One of the adjustments I had to make after I retired was allowing myself to be okay with not always being busy. I wrote many extensive to-do lists to somehow justify not working full time. Now I think that might just have been me, because I see many of my retired teacher friends making an easier transition than I did.

I think more than anything life is about balance. Trying to find that sweet spot between doing too much, and not doing enough is probably the way to go. I must admit I am enjoying this "slow" time of my life.