This essay came at the perfect time to me, as I ended my relationship that went awry during COVID and was left hanging in between trapezes for over two years. I felt pain in my heart as I read the many truths you have raised. I realized how much baggage I had been carrying with me when I first entered this relationship five years ago, and expected my ex to be my savior. But the pain and betrayal I went through had pushed me out of my conditioning and comfort zone to take a deep dive into my soul. I'm still uncomfortable with uncertainty, but I'm better equipped for it. I will, as you suggested, write out all my past pain and baggage and design a ritual to move through this awful stage of my life. I think it would be a great midlife rite of passage.
Thank you for this beautiful essay filled with wisdom and, to borrow your own words, "slap-in- the-face" truths! ❤️🙏
Sometimes the hardest part for me is when I have to deal with the reality of my choices, and what drove my choices. Of course it's hard! But what we don't dry out in the light of day just keeps on morphing in the damp cellars of our souls. My my I'm poetic today....Thanks for the kind words and I am sorry for the pain. I can sure relate.
Oh I love those lyrical musings! I totally get it. Its scary and painful to visit the dark cellar but it is a must if we were to clear it of past ghosts. Thanks for your empathy.
We live while being hung between the trapezes . . . that's as succinct an expression of life as a human as I've ever seen. I've come to believe that what maturity means is the ability to deal with uncertainty.
That rings very true for me, Jan. I'ts awfully hard, but honestly, I am the happiest when I can be comfortable not knowing. Fleeing moments, but they really are rewarding. Working at having more of them.
My tagline for years: "Change is inevitable. Plan carefully." There are two kinds of change, planned and unplanned. We live between the two bookends of life and death and often, it's not until later, that we come to know and act on not being too old to learn, grow and change. I am here, making the most and best of each day because, Yogi Berra's quote, "It ain't over until it's over."
So very true. I don't understand how people just give up during the best parts of their lives. Sure we hurt and our joints can bark (ask my back) but my god...we're still alive!
When we start each day with gratitude for the possibilities and what we can make of this day or that one, regardless of condition or situation, that shifts us into a state where we can give from whatever we have, even if it's no more than a kind word or a smile; Pain and being sick or hurt are miserable and most undesirable; some recover, some don't. In the meantime as long as there is breath, there is life. Live it until there is no more.
I love this, Jeannine; and isn't it so fascinating, this idea of being a Phoenix. We really can remake ourselves regularly. I am so sorry about your stroke but there are so very many stories from people for whom such an experience was precisely the lifep-changer they needed. You are most welcome for the POV; and I really appreciate yours.
This essay came at the perfect time to me, as I ended my relationship that went awry during COVID and was left hanging in between trapezes for over two years. I felt pain in my heart as I read the many truths you have raised. I realized how much baggage I had been carrying with me when I first entered this relationship five years ago, and expected my ex to be my savior. But the pain and betrayal I went through had pushed me out of my conditioning and comfort zone to take a deep dive into my soul. I'm still uncomfortable with uncertainty, but I'm better equipped for it. I will, as you suggested, write out all my past pain and baggage and design a ritual to move through this awful stage of my life. I think it would be a great midlife rite of passage.
Thank you for this beautiful essay filled with wisdom and, to borrow your own words, "slap-in- the-face" truths! ❤️🙏
Sometimes the hardest part for me is when I have to deal with the reality of my choices, and what drove my choices. Of course it's hard! But what we don't dry out in the light of day just keeps on morphing in the damp cellars of our souls. My my I'm poetic today....Thanks for the kind words and I am sorry for the pain. I can sure relate.
Oh I love those lyrical musings! I totally get it. Its scary and painful to visit the dark cellar but it is a must if we were to clear it of past ghosts. Thanks for your empathy.
You bet, Louisa!
We live while being hung between the trapezes . . . that's as succinct an expression of life as a human as I've ever seen. I've come to believe that what maturity means is the ability to deal with uncertainty.
That rings very true for me, Jan. I'ts awfully hard, but honestly, I am the happiest when I can be comfortable not knowing. Fleeing moments, but they really are rewarding. Working at having more of them.
Me too. I think that's maybe the whole point.
Yep! :)
My tagline for years: "Change is inevitable. Plan carefully." There are two kinds of change, planned and unplanned. We live between the two bookends of life and death and often, it's not until later, that we come to know and act on not being too old to learn, grow and change. I am here, making the most and best of each day because, Yogi Berra's quote, "It ain't over until it's over."
So very true. I don't understand how people just give up during the best parts of their lives. Sure we hurt and our joints can bark (ask my back) but my god...we're still alive!
When we start each day with gratitude for the possibilities and what we can make of this day or that one, regardless of condition or situation, that shifts us into a state where we can give from whatever we have, even if it's no more than a kind word or a smile; Pain and being sick or hurt are miserable and most undesirable; some recover, some don't. In the meantime as long as there is breath, there is life. Live it until there is no more.
Totally agree. So easy to get hacked away from the life we're trying to live
I love this, Jeannine; and isn't it so fascinating, this idea of being a Phoenix. We really can remake ourselves regularly. I am so sorry about your stroke but there are so very many stories from people for whom such an experience was precisely the lifep-changer they needed. You are most welcome for the POV; and I really appreciate yours.