Reality Check

Had a marvelous time camping … excelled at doing not a whole lot of anything for five days. Went the touristy route one day, walking through the woods/campground one day, solidifying a relationship with friends we’ve had for over 20 years every day.

Now I’m back to reality, and things are already moving too fast.

I remember when I was younger  and thought the day would never end. Of course, many of those days were work days. And I had 50 years of those five-day-a-week days. Now that I am retired I am doing more in one day than I did in several.

I’m not sure I want to be this busy.

I have to admit I’m having a ball being retired. Getting up when I want to instead of when I have to has changed my attitude for the better.

But now I’ve got mowing duties and a craft show in 10 days and my granddaughter’s concert and soccer games and baseball practice and plants to take outside for the spring and tons of laundry to do and I’m already tired thinking about it all.

It’s easy to complain about where you are in life. You’d rather be there than here. You’d rather your kids be self-sufficient instead of clingy all the time. You’d rather sit and read a book than do a sink full of dishes.

Then one day a very good friend finds cancer in their lungs or needs shoulder surgery and you realize all your complaining means nothing.

Life will go on as it always has. It will always be full of ups and downs and boredom and flash moments and there is nothing you can do about them except hold on.

Today I wish all of you bright hopes and peaceful days. Learn what you can from your experiences and help others going through theirs.

Sitting around the fire and talking with good friends was the therapy I needed to embrace the world and what little time we have left to do what we want to do.

Find your fire and sit around it when you can.