I’m in a thoughtful, pensive mood today. Thinking about my life, about how I have built my life, and continue to build my life. I think of the little nest, or home, the girls and I lived in thirty-four years ago. It was a very small, two bedroom apartment above my brother Mark’s two-car garage. We called it The Penthouse. Now here I am, fast forward to present day, living in Our Treehouse, a lovely place to gather, surrounded by country fields. My own nest. And my life so very different than three and one-half decades ago. Somehow I feel the grace of it all, most days anyway.
I ask myself questions related to building a life I love. What choices lead me here? What did I dream of? What did I envision when I chose to leave a career as a dog groomer and become a nurse? And now, a retired nurse and living my dream as a writer? How will I continue to manifest that? What about all my friends, or really all my “families”, that I chose to share my life with? How much love am I willing to give out to others, understanding it will all come back to me? How wide can I open my arms and receive? How much will I allow in all areas of my life?
I think about all this. I am coming to understand it is important to think about my past because it helps me move forward. I have had a lot of practice at building myself a life. I also have had a lot of help, from family , friends, teachers, co-workers, to strangers smiling at me in the grocery store. And I especially think about that last question– How much will I allow? Because if I close myself off from new ideas, having an open mind, embracing new opportunities, or learning new things, then I cannot expect my life to grow or expand.
That’s really what I want today; to continue to build my life, maybe head in a few different directions, to stack up new blocks with new colors, like letting go of some old legos and throwing in some new. Like the branches of a tree, how far will I stretch and grow?
c Love, Joan
My dear Joan, there is a song – Swing wide the doors of this heart of mine… As I read your post, I hear this song in my head. Keep stretching and growing, swing wide the doors of you heart as you continue to build the life you desire. Your presence in the world brings more light and more peace to us all. Welcome all the experiences life has to offer. More and more good each day!
The skies the limit for you no doubt❤️
Thank you beautiful Lady! Unlimited!!!
“Swing wide the doors of this heart of mine!” I love this. Pretty much says it all doesn’t it? Thank you Rev. Rick for your beautiful comment!
As I read, I pictured you in carpenter’s overalls, wiping your brow with a kerchief as you scan the vast, beautiful field of your current life. I relate so much to the tone of your post, Joan. On the eve of my 66th birthday. I don’t have a need to go anywhere, get anything, or do anything special. Just a yearning to sit and ponder the many chapters of my life and think about what I want next… More time with friends like you and the people I recently hugged at your lovely “tree house” feels important. You inspire me, beautiful lady! My knowing of you is that your arms and your mind are open wonderfully wide…
Thank you beautiful Lady! I have no doubt you will stretch and grow!! :O)