"At middle age the soul should be opening up like a rose,
not closing up like a cabbage." - Anonymous
My friends said, when you turned FIFTY you will notice many changes, the list they gave me was not encouraging or inspiring:
Weight gain, thinning greying hair, decreased sexual function, memory loss, joint pain, lethargic,
incontinence, and the dreaded wrinkles.
Granted I have experienced much of these to some degree.
The changes they forgot to mention were: A loss of the fear of dying, I have come to accept and look forward to my final address on one of those golden streets.
A greater appreciation for others has allowed me to look and listen more closely, God and creation are now luminous.
A good change in diet brought on by an appreciation for fresh grown foods- many I now have time to produce by my own hand.
The flowers I was too busy to notice with the business of youth now bloom more brightly.
The wind blowing through my hair as I bike along the bay feels fresher.
Sharing a good book while I sip coffee in the company of some one I love gives me more peace than I could have imagined when I was young.
Those days were branded weariness from a hurried days work ending with only the energy to flick the TV on and mindless sink into a hypnotic state of slumber before rushing into the next hectic day.
My friend Ginger a notable glass artist, celebrated the start of her fith inning by signing up for the challenge to swim the bay in the annual Eddie Sargent memorial across the bay swim in
67degree water.
Eric Thiessen suits up with Ginger Smith For the Eddt Seargant Annual Swim Across The Bay at Owen Sound, August 2009
The interview with Ginger was featured in the Owen Sound Sun Times on Aug. 10 2009.
Good for you Ginger!
Let me know how you are celebrating the latter innings of your life?
Linda Thiessen
I didn't realize you had started blogging, Linda.
ReplyDeleteWay to go.