Aging gracefully

“A person without a sense of humor is like a wagon without springs. It’s jolted by every pebble on the road.”

- Henry Ward Beecher

There are any number of things we learn in life, and few lessons we need as much as learning to age gracefully.

With age comes wisdom, or so they say.  I like to think that’s the case, but you never really know until you have some age under your belt.  Then you find there’s a lot you don’t know and some things you should have paid better attention to along the way.

People generally arrive in your life for a reason, so pay attention, especially while they’re present, since they may not be with you for very long.

Every time someone leaves, it’s not necessarily abandonment.  They may be needed somewhere else and you shouldn’t take it personally.

Every rejection is not a “never” but sometimes the “no” may be a simple “not now” and you really do want to try again, especially if it’s something you want and are willing to work towards.  After all, how much can it really be worth if you’re not willing to work for it?

If you’ve been on the down side most of your life, never having enough, never getting what you want, never in the spotlight, rarely rewarded and overworked and underpaid, maybe it’s time to see about taking the high road.  In other words, is your glass always half empty?  Maybe, just for a short time, take the opposite tack, and pretend it’s always half full.  See what starting a day on a positive note can bring into your life.

I’ll bet there is more of everything you ever needed and you just didn’t notice it until now.  Isn’t it nice to have so much for a change?  So much more so you can share the abundance in your life with others?

Remember, the good times are multiplied when we share with friends, but sorrows are reduced in the same sharing.

And these few secrets are those that help us to age gracefully.

Old Friends

I put my Christmas tree up this week.  Honestly, it’s never been one of my favorite traditions of Christmas.  I love the tree once it’s decorated but everything else, like picking it out, putting it up, or shlepping on lights, is just not a joyous event for me.  This year I purchased my very first artificial tree, and I can see the benefit to it but I do miss the smell of fresh pine.  (Not to mention the ability to cut off branches for pine boughs and various floral projects)

My favorite part of decorating the tree is actually pulling out my ornaments and reliving the stories of each one, or finding ones that were not a favorite but still make my heart feel all warm and fuzzy.  They are like having hundreds of little friends you only get to see once a year.  I have one ornament my grandmother gave me in the early 90′s or a fairy sitting on a leaf.  It’s my all time favorite and always goes to the top of the tree where I hold it in high honor.

This year I want to share a particular favorite warm memory with you. Long ago I went to Georgia for Thanksgiving with my husband.  We spent a wonderful holiday with my Uncle and Aunt and then went to Savannah for a few days.  I have to say it was a great vacation and my first taste of Savannah, a town of my heart, and I’d always wanted to go back. While we were there I purchased a hand painted sand dollar as an ornament.

As I shared in September I went to Savannah to attend the worlds most romantic and joyous wedding.  So when I pulled this ornament from its wrapping this year, tears gathered in my eyes and I held it close to my heart. After such a bitter and ugly divorce I try not to let those feelings come into play, but this year an ornament I might have had sad feelings for, was no longer a sense of pain, it brought on such fond memories and happiness.  I no longer share my visit to Savannah with my ex.  They are gone and in their place belong the memories I found there with my best friend and her new husband. My heart is filled with their love for one another and the special bond that only strengthened this year between my friend and I. This tiny little Christmas ornament will be a reminder for the rest of my life, of those moments that brought me such fulfillment and love.

I’m proud to say that lovely sand dollar has moved to the top of the tree, above my most favorite ornament and holds a much higher place of honor.

What about you?  What are your ornament stories?  What do you decorate your tree with?

Only a few more days -

Michelle