Good Morning

I've come to believe that optimism and resilience are two qualities that provide comfort as we age. At least that's true for me. Each morning feels like a gift now, not a day filled with tasks. I check to see if any of my plants have new buds, whether the lake is calm or filled with white caps and if a bird has landed on my deck. My joints ache sometimes and I can't walk as long and as fast as I used to. But I can walk and swim and read and write, so all is not lost.

When Tina Turner sang, I Will Survive, I took those words to heart during those dark days we've all had. And here I am, at 82, still looking for the answers I thought I would know by now. But age has nothing to do with it. Life is filled with complexities and confusion that we will never understand. Being alone much of the time does not have to be lonely. It can provide time for introspection and acceptance. 

There was a time when anger came swiftly. But now, I find, I haven't the time or the inclination to defend myself or blame others for whatever wrongs have been done. I listen more, speak less. I am human after all and make mistakes. But I try not to let those things fester and take on a life of their own. The words, I'm sorry, come far more quickly for me than they used to.

Commitments can be a good thing, even when they are only to yourself. I decided in August that I would post every Saturday on Burnt Chocolate and share what I've written with family and friends. Sometimes, mid-week, I know what I want to write. Other days, like this morning, I've no idea. When I sit down at my computer, I wait to see what will pop into my head and land on the page. That's the gift I give myself and share with you. A lovely way to start my week. And yours, I hope.