The Good Old Days: Remember When . . . ?

“Life is a process of becoming, a combination of states we have to go through. Where people fail is that they wish to elect a state and remain in it. This is a kind of death.”

Anaïs Nin, Winter of Artifice

As I continue to go through things I’ve inherited and to clean out things I simply stuffed into some dark closet or drawer, I’m experiencing many fond memories. I’ve been organizing and clearing fabric scraps that have accumulated since I can remember. Mom always said that you don’t throw away the scraps after you cut out a garment you’re sewing. You save them for quilts. She saved them for years. I guess it’s my job to see that they actually get quilted. “Oh, look, here’s fabric from my 1st clown costumes. Here’s some from the costume I wore out while working for the circus. Here’s some from a dress I loved in high school.” Those were some of my good old days.

I listen to the exhaustion of a friend with 3 kids under age 5. I remember being exhausted when my daughters were young, and there were only 2 of them. As tiring as they were, those are good old days. That doesn’t mean I want to be living in them now. I’m enjoying new ages and stages of their lives and mine. Of course, at the age I am now I’m bombarded by people trying to sell me anti-aging products and programs. Sorry, I’m not on board. I’d like to stay healthy, but I’m glad I get the opportunity to age. There’s so much more to live and experience.

Keep yourself alive. Allow yourself to move through the states of life, to embrace each one. Take a few quiet moments to reflect, to look for the gifts that your current stage has to offer. Accept the gifts graciously. I have a few new wrinkles and more gray hair. OK! Those are signs that I’ve had time to develop some wisdom, to benefit from life experiences. I don’t want to erase that. I want to embrace it. What about you?

Loving Life