Life provides no guarantees except the proverbial “death & taxes“.
So, was all the effort, all those weekends, all those years worth it?
Um, yes.
Was It Worth It?
Tag: Florida
Guilty Feeling
What makes humans feel guilt?
What makes you feel guilty?
Know what makes me feel guilty?
This week, my son and I have taken several sunset walks. We end up in our back yard. A really big back yard. The sun has set, and now it’s twilight.
“Son, look around. Do you see how much space is here in this yard, from one side to the other?”
He says, “Yes.”
“I’m not saying that other sized yards are better or worse. I’m just saying that Mommy and Daddy worked really, really hard to make this yard possible.”
For something like seven years, Cheryl and I spent, what seemed like a majority of our weekends looking for a big yard near Walt Disney World.
The first 15 years in Central Florida, I worked every weekend, and had either a Saturday or a Sunday off, but never both.
And on that lone weekend day off, we combed the area north of Disney, south of Disney, east of Disney, west of Disney.
The result? Nothing. Year after year. Nothing.
Until one day….
Not Fully Awake
Been awake for an hour now, but not fully, wide-eyed, awake.
Sort of a numb-awake, if that’s even a term. The kind of semi-conscious consciousness from working really hard at something and having “sore muscles” from it.
Except, these muscles aren’t physical, they’re spiritual. Ever think so much, or meditate so much that you’re mind and spirit are foggy the next day? Perhaps it’s the equivalent of a hangover, without the nausea.
So many people are struggling with so many things. It’s everywhere and affects everyone. It overwhelms me.
And I often feel guilty.
Do you ever feel similar to this?
Crazy thing is, it’s always been like this.
So it deserves more dialogue, if for no other reason than to clear some thoughts, or at the very least, grab the right folder.
We Talked About It
Are there things in your life that are difficult to talk about? Things that scare you to talk about?
Me too. But not as much lately. Why? Because of things that have happened and the lessons learned.
Namely, becoming a parent. And thinking about the type of parent a child should have, there are a few key concepts that seem all too obvious to practice well.
Being honest.
On our sunset walk the other night, with our Dog, our son and I talked about random things. Clouds. The sky’s color. The cold air. His “winter” clothing. Sounds we heard. Jokes. Junk.
And then for some reason, as we were turning off the road and through the woods to our house, I saw Carter, our yellow Lab (10), come following behind us.
“You know Carter’s not going to live forever, right? All things die. Carter will die some day. You know this right?”
It felt like the right moment to say that, mostly because of a recent conversation with a death expert.
This “death expert” works in Hospice and Palliative Care. She mentioned that her vision would be that everyone in her community would “die well”, not just her company’s “customers”.
It hit me in a weird, but glorious sort of way. Her honesty. Her frankness. Her ease in talking about death.
Eureka!
If we are aware and not too afraid, we can help Carter die well. We should start thinking about it before we need to.
Same goes for humans.
Twas the Night Before
“Twas the night before Christmas and all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.”
After yesterday’s loooong post, just wanted to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas.
May the peace that surpasses all understanding, and the love that is never ending, bless you this day with unspeakable joy!