I typically do say yes to adventures in my life and will seek out free events and activities too. My Mother died when she was 63, I am going on 65.
I realized life could be very short a long time ago and try to incorporate healthy eating and exercise as much as I can. I also know when I retire I am not going to sit in front of a TV for several hours. Just something that is not appealing to me at all. I hope to keep busy and learning new things.
I can live a ‘big YES’
by actually participating in the adventure of my life.
I don’t want to lie in a nursing home on my death bed
and realize that I slept most of my life . . .
this thought
makes me realize
that the days and months and years
are going by,
even more quickly than when I was young.
When I turned 50
I thought maybe I would live to 80,
giving me another 30 years . . .
then I thought back on the last 30 years,
and realized how quickly they had gone
(in retrospect).
When I turned 60,
and then 70,
i did the same exercise.
Now,
at 76,
I’ve stretched my timeline a little, 🙂
and hope to perhaps live another 10 or 15 years.
Over time,
I have learned to stay awake to my life,
and have made better use of my time,
but I still have much to learn
and much to do . . .
the time is falling away like dead skin,
and I push away a creeping sense of urgency.
But the pressure is gone
to make something of myself,
and I believe now
that I am doing the best I can
with what I have.
I say YES to wrapping things up,
enjoying what time is left to me,
making an adventure out of everything that comes my way . . .
doing what is really important
and letting the rest of it go.
When I breathe my last breath
I also hope I’ll be ready
and filled with enthusiasm
for the next adventure,
whatever it is. ♥
Dear Sparrow, you remind me a very ancient Italian poems, wrote by Lorenzo il Magnifico of Florence. I try to translate it, asking my excuses to official translators, and poets and Lorenzo himself, if I don’t do a good work!
How beautiful is the youth that still flees, whoever wants to be happy, let him be, there is no certainty of tomorrow.
“to make something of myself,” I just went with the flow of an agrarian worker, who detested working in doors. Guess I ended up as what I am. Thank you, dear Sparrow for this read.
I can identify with much of this Sparrow.
It kind of takes my breath away.
“I say YES to wrapping things up
enjoying what time is left to me
making an adventure out of everything that comes my way. . .
doing what is really important
and letting the rest of it go”
Sparrow, this is so honest and inspiring. You’ve made me think: What would I do if I dropped the pressure to make something of myself? It sounds quite liberating.
Earlier on,
dear Drea,
I was under a lot of pressure
to make something of myself . . .
from my parents,
which was handed down to pressure from myself.
It has been so freeing
to let that go.
”I am what I am”,
as Popeye would say . . . 🙂
By being present, as several have mentioned already; let go of fear; giving with all my heart, by committing to support kindred hearts and values dear to me; by offering all my creativity and love; to help kindred hearts and all beyond to possibly unfold and be realized. In doing so, all which is dear to my heart will be able to thrive also and adventure called “YES! to life” is fully invited as well, overflowing into this very moment. How often i have missed it. To overcome fear and become open to “thy will be done” and it will be good. 🙇♀️❤️✨🙏
Live live fully, inhabit moments fully, allow myself to be more amazed by whatever comes along.
It occurs to me that the advice, “Don’t let situations turn into problems” could become “Turn situations into adventures and find out what happens next.” What happens on the next page or in the next chapter of this Book of Life I’m writing?
perhaps coming in from where I am right now with a simple, “OK, and thank you” rather than the reach for a “big YES!” right now —- specifically by putting on my walking shoes and getting outside for some movement and hopefully? eventual mileage and striding along up some hills with enjoyment. I love the concept of being in the “flow state”, but I am not swimming in it lately, so I think just getting outside and walking, wanting to increase my endurance and pleasure and hope of fitness again, will be a good start. I am sorry to feel so tentative right now, but I feel myself needing some self-coaxing. I appreciate getting to put that down and hope for it here; and I feel comfort within this reflection practice.🙏
(and Thank you, Sparrow and all, for yesterday’s encouragement!!)
thank you, Robin Ann. And I also remember a comment I liked that was made here recently, “It helps to have a plan”. I will plan some baby steps. thank you very much — and yes always to spring birds!!🙏
Dear Carol Ann, it looks to me like you are being kind of hard on yourself.
When I start feeling overwhelmed, I have to start very small to get myself moving.
For instance just doing the dishes can seem like too much sometimes.
So I’ll start with just putting the dirty glasses and cups together and stopping there.
Then I just stack dirty plates and bowls and so on.
Maybe walk for ten minutes or just a few blocks each day and see where that takes you.
Try speaking to yourself as you would a dear friend who is in your position.
I’m thinking that if you treat yourself kindly and gently
this whole endeavor can be very enjoyable and rewarding.
By simply saying yes. Yes, to opportunity’s. Yes, to adventure. Yes, something new. Yes, to things out of the ordinary. And try to examine when I resist.
The examination is a great thought, Charlie. How do we hold ourselves back? What’s in our minds that we could set free to free ourselves?
In the book Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman talks about how we might like to think of ourselves as a superyacht, moving serenely ahead, taking no notice of the weather and other factors. We’re really more like kayakers, skimming the waves and responding in the moment, sometimes being moved about by big waves to which we need to adjust in order to stay afloat. Sounds like an adventure to me.
Ya know, it’s funny, Barb, I use water as a metaphor often, yet, I’m not really a water person. But somehow it works for me. A river, waves, the power of water, it seems to fit.
****Paragraph written after the post:
I’m just noticing that I answered the question – How can I say yes to adventure in my life?
I was trying to think of adventures that I could have.😊
So I will leave my post as I wrote it.
But it does make more sense if you know the question that I was answering. 🥰
***Post:
I’m going to keep it simple here. (No mountain climbing)
To me an adventure would be doing something new and fun.
Over the years my husband and I have lost several trees in our yard.
I would like to plant some trees, some fruit bearing, some flowering
and a pine tree. The pine tree, just because I love pine trees.
My husband usually does the cooking,
but I would like to find some recipes that are simple, tasty, and healthy,
and start making dinner myself more often.
My husband and I like to take pictures, and have a park that we go to that I especially love.
I would like to look into some other locations, so that each time we go it would be a new adventure.
***Extra Paragraph added to the post:
After posting and rereading my post it occurs to me
that I would like to do something by myself, asserting some independence.
So I am updating my post.
Once a week I would like to go to a different coffee shop or go to see an art exhibit by myself.
I would feel proud to show some independence.
I have enjoyed reading your post, Mary, and seeing how you brought yourself along a path — arriving somewhere when you weren’t sure of the outcome. That’s fun and gratifying! Individualization in the making!! Good wishes to you enjoying your solo adventures. sounds healthy to me.
Wow, Drea, I like that you included protecting yourself with befriending fear.
Speaking for myself, I think I would like to befriend fear, just a little at a time.
EMDR also is helpful.
Best wishes on this quest, Drea. And much love. ♥️
I say thank you for getting to wake up to this new day in the life of me. I live a big yes by being an active participant in my life – trusting the path but doing my part and living the path. Say yes to opportunities. Say yes to life!
Live a BIG YES to my life? – :
Live in, accept and savor each moment. Realize that experiencing even hardships, pain, challenges along with contentment, happiness and joys attest to my lived life. I may want to “get through” some experiences quicker than others, as I am not a masochist or a patient sufferer, but I accept them, and try to learn from them. Live a BIG THANK YOU, for each breath, as my path unfolds, embracing others I meet along the way..
Show up fully and open my mind, heart and eyes! Be awake. Engage. This is it, folks, this one amazing day that I get to live, so far. So one day at a time, let me say YES. And then the next, and the next . . .🩷
This makes me think of the Maya Angelou quote, which is what came to mind when I read the question: “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”
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I typically do say yes to adventures in my life and will seek out free events and activities too. My Mother died when she was 63, I am going on 65.
I realized life could be very short a long time ago and try to incorporate healthy eating and exercise as much as I can. I also know when I retire I am not going to sit in front of a TV for several hours. Just something that is not appealing to me at all. I hope to keep busy and learning new things.
I can live a ‘big YES’
by actually participating in the adventure of my life.
I don’t want to lie in a nursing home on my death bed
and realize that I slept most of my life . . .
this thought
makes me realize
that the days and months and years
are going by,
even more quickly than when I was young.
When I turned 50
I thought maybe I would live to 80,
giving me another 30 years . . .
then I thought back on the last 30 years,
and realized how quickly they had gone
(in retrospect).
When I turned 60,
and then 70,
i did the same exercise.
Now,
at 76,
I’ve stretched my timeline a little, 🙂
and hope to perhaps live another 10 or 15 years.
Over time,
I have learned to stay awake to my life,
and have made better use of my time,
but I still have much to learn
and much to do . . .
the time is falling away like dead skin,
and I push away a creeping sense of urgency.
But the pressure is gone
to make something of myself,
and I believe now
that I am doing the best I can
with what I have.
I say YES to wrapping things up,
enjoying what time is left to me,
making an adventure out of everything that comes my way . . .
doing what is really important
and letting the rest of it go.
When I breathe my last breath
I also hope I’ll be ready
and filled with enthusiasm
for the next adventure,
whatever it is. ♥
Sparrow, one could say so much about the beauty and truth of your words here. I loved reading this! I will only say Amen and Thank You.🩷
Thank YOU,
dear Mary,
for what you bring to this place. ♥
Dear Sparrow, you remind me a very ancient Italian poems, wrote by Lorenzo il Magnifico of Florence. I try to translate it, asking my excuses to official translators, and poets and Lorenzo himself, if I don’t do a good work!
How beautiful is the youth that still flees, whoever wants to be happy, let him be, there is no certainty of tomorrow.
”How beautiful is the youth that still flees, whoever wants to be happy, let him be, there is no certainty of tomorrow.”
. . . so very true,
dear Anna.
I must learn more about this Lorenzo il Magnifico of Florence. ♥
“to make something of myself,” I just went with the flow of an agrarian worker, who detested working in doors. Guess I ended up as what I am. Thank you, dear Sparrow for this read.
Dear Joseph . . .
you are part of the reason I wrote this . . .
I can identify with much of this Sparrow.
It kind of takes my breath away.
“I say YES to wrapping things up
enjoying what time is left to me
making an adventure out of everything that comes my way. . .
doing what is really important
and letting the rest of it go”
I am happy,
dear Mary,
that my ramblings
make some sort of sense to you . . . 🙂
Sparrow, this is so honest and inspiring. You’ve made me think: What would I do if I dropped the pressure to make something of myself? It sounds quite liberating.
Earlier on,
dear Drea,
I was under a lot of pressure
to make something of myself . . .
from my parents,
which was handed down to pressure from myself.
It has been so freeing
to let that go.
”I am what I am”,
as Popeye would say . . . 🙂
By being present, as several have mentioned already; let go of fear; giving with all my heart, by committing to support kindred hearts and values dear to me; by offering all my creativity and love; to help kindred hearts and all beyond to possibly unfold and be realized. In doing so, all which is dear to my heart will be able to thrive also and adventure called “YES! to life” is fully invited as well, overflowing into this very moment. How often i have missed it. To overcome fear and become open to “thy will be done” and it will be good. 🙇♀️❤️✨🙏
Live live fully, inhabit moments fully, allow myself to be more amazed by whatever comes along.
It occurs to me that the advice, “Don’t let situations turn into problems” could become “Turn situations into adventures and find out what happens next.” What happens on the next page or in the next chapter of this Book of Life I’m writing?
Barb, my friend Ceci has often said, “An adventure can become an ordeal, or an ordeal can become an adventure”! Often, we get to choose. 🩷
What feels like an ordeal in the moment can become an adventure in telling the story about it afterwards.
Wow Barb, such a great way to look at living and working through situations!
perhaps coming in from where I am right now with a simple, “OK, and thank you” rather than the reach for a “big YES!” right now —- specifically by putting on my walking shoes and getting outside for some movement and hopefully? eventual mileage and striding along up some hills with enjoyment. I love the concept of being in the “flow state”, but I am not swimming in it lately, so I think just getting outside and walking, wanting to increase my endurance and pleasure and hope of fitness again, will be a good start. I am sorry to feel so tentative right now, but I feel myself needing some self-coaxing. I appreciate getting to put that down and hope for it here; and I feel comfort within this reflection practice.🙏
(and Thank you, Sparrow and all, for yesterday’s encouragement!!)
I agree with baby steps. Find a beautiful spot to sit and rest and listen to the spring birds.
thank you, Robin Ann. And I also remember a comment I liked that was made here recently, “It helps to have a plan”. I will plan some baby steps. thank you very much — and yes always to spring birds!!🙏
Dear Carol Ann, it looks to me like you are being kind of hard on yourself.
When I start feeling overwhelmed, I have to start very small to get myself moving.
For instance just doing the dishes can seem like too much sometimes.
So I’ll start with just putting the dirty glasses and cups together and stopping there.
Then I just stack dirty plates and bowls and so on.
Maybe walk for ten minutes or just a few blocks each day and see where that takes you.
Try speaking to yourself as you would a dear friend who is in your position.
I’m thinking that if you treat yourself kindly and gently
this whole endeavor can be very enjoyable and rewarding.
thank you, Mary. We have consensus here on the baby steps, and I value your input.🙏
Baby steps,
dear Carol Ann . . .
baby steps. ♥
It’s true,
dear Carol Ann . . . 🙂
made me smile, Sparrow. thank you.🙏
By staying present in the here & now. Accept, embrace & surrender to the present moment.
☘️ Happy St. Paddy’s Day All ☘️
By simply saying yes. Yes, to opportunity’s. Yes, to adventure. Yes, something new. Yes, to things out of the ordinary. And try to examine when I resist.
The examination is a great thought, Charlie. How do we hold ourselves back? What’s in our minds that we could set free to free ourselves?
In the book Meditations for Mortals, Oliver Burkeman talks about how we might like to think of ourselves as a superyacht, moving serenely ahead, taking no notice of the weather and other factors. We’re really more like kayakers, skimming the waves and responding in the moment, sometimes being moved about by big waves to which we need to adjust in order to stay afloat. Sounds like an adventure to me.
Ya know, it’s funny, Barb, I use water as a metaphor often, yet, I’m not really a water person. But somehow it works for me. A river, waves, the power of water, it seems to fit.
****Paragraph written after the post:
I’m just noticing that I answered the question – How can I say yes to adventure in my life?
I was trying to think of adventures that I could have.😊
So I will leave my post as I wrote it.
But it does make more sense if you know the question that I was answering. 🥰
***Post:
I’m going to keep it simple here. (No mountain climbing)
To me an adventure would be doing something new and fun.
Over the years my husband and I have lost several trees in our yard.
I would like to plant some trees, some fruit bearing, some flowering
and a pine tree. The pine tree, just because I love pine trees.
My husband usually does the cooking,
but I would like to find some recipes that are simple, tasty, and healthy,
and start making dinner myself more often.
My husband and I like to take pictures, and have a park that we go to that I especially love.
I would like to look into some other locations, so that each time we go it would be a new adventure.
***Extra Paragraph added to the post:
After posting and rereading my post it occurs to me
that I would like to do something by myself, asserting some independence.
So I am updating my post.
Once a week I would like to go to a different coffee shop or go to see an art exhibit by myself.
I would feel proud to show some independence.
I have enjoyed reading your post, Mary, and seeing how you brought yourself along a path — arriving somewhere when you weren’t sure of the outcome. That’s fun and gratifying! Individualization in the making!! Good wishes to you enjoying your solo adventures. sounds healthy to me.
All I can say is DITTO to YRAM’s post.
A day at a time! Staying in the present! Living my values.
Continue to familiarize myself with how I protect myself, and befriend fear.
. . . ‘befriend fear’.
I am with you here,
dear Drea
with love . . . ♥
Thank you Sparrow.
Wow, Drea, I like that you included protecting yourself with befriending fear.
Speaking for myself, I think I would like to befriend fear, just a little at a time.
EMDR also is helpful.
Best wishes on this quest, Drea. And much love. ♥️
Thank you Mary.
I believe you have lots of support here, Drea.
Thank you Carol Ann, I feel the support here.
I say thank you for getting to wake up to this new day in the life of me. I live a big yes by being an active participant in my life – trusting the path but doing my part and living the path. Say yes to opportunities. Say yes to life!
Live a BIG YES to my life? – :
Live in, accept and savor each moment. Realize that experiencing even hardships, pain, challenges along with contentment, happiness and joys attest to my lived life. I may want to “get through” some experiences quicker than others, as I am not a masochist or a patient sufferer, but I accept them, and try to learn from them. Live a BIG THANK YOU, for each breath, as my path unfolds, embracing others I meet along the way..
Trust in God’s blessings…. 🌸
Love it, my Ngoc. Nice and simple.
Show up fully and open my mind, heart and eyes! Be awake. Engage. This is it, folks, this one amazing day that I get to live, so far. So one day at a time, let me say YES. And then the next, and the next . . .🩷
This makes me think of the Maya Angelou quote, which is what came to mind when I read the question: “This is a wonderful day. I’ve never seen this one before.”
Maya’s quote is a wonderful summary, Barb. And such a beautiful way to start a day.🩷
Mary Mantei, nice and simple. That’s all we need to do. Staying awake goes a long ways.