Searching for goodness in the new year

Now that Christmas is but a memory. I think I need something to look forward to.

It is my intent to mix some writing in with my tales of adventures.

When The Shadows Get Long

Towards the end we look back.  At the end of anything it’s important we reflect.  As a child I remember my favorite time was summer.  No school, no work, no place to be.  I would wake early and have a sense of having everything in front of me.  At the end of these days I would walk home.  As I did I would look at my shadow.  Sometimes on the road.  Sometimes on the grass.  Sometimes in the woods.  When I looked at my shadow it would be much longer than it was early in the day.  This was because of the setting sun.  Early in the afternoon my shadow was short.  It felt great! I had already enjoyed so many things and yet had much of the day left to do other amazing things.  Now late in the day I would feel a mixture of sadness and fulfillment.  Sad the day was over, but fulfillment for all the things I had done that day.  But I knew tomorrow was another day with many new things to experience. 

This theme would play out again and again.  Not just in my days of summer but at the end of life’s monumental moments. 

I look back at the time I have had and smile.  I never wasted an instant. I always told everyone exactly how I felt about them.  

 Now as I look back on life. I do it with the same sense of sorrow and fulfillment as we look at our shadows.

As our shadows get long we wish happiness for our children and loved ones.  Some think we get soft.  Maybe we do.  The drive for accomplishment gives way to understanding and empathy.  Always be thankful for the time we have had on this earth.  Don’t look back and say “I wish I would have done this or knew that.”  We knew our days on this earth were limited and our shadows would change throughout.  

Tell our children every time we say goodnight that We Love Them.  This is an understatement but words can not express the amazement that my children and granddaughters bring me!  I  do not see them as much as I would like to.  This should never be mistaken for what I want with or for them.  As they grew up and had busy lives of their own.  I hope I instilled in them the importance of living each day, each month, and each year to the limits of our spirit.

My wish for us all was to chase that dream.  Make it happen whatever it takes.  Stare that long shadow in the face and say now that the day is over thank you for what you have taught me.  My wish for us all is to fight with passion and respect.   Love with passion and respect.  And when it comes time to say goodbye, do so with passion and respect.

But, as we get ready to say goodbye, look back.  Look back at  life and ask yourself this?  

Instead of dreading each day, what if we make it an adventure? A day filled with hellos, smiles, and listening. Listening to others as they make their way through life. Listen with a sense of sadness that they don’t have our lives. Our children, Our friends. I will always wonder in amazement at what a timeless place this is that we get to walk among greatness, even if only for a whisper of time.

Happy New Year to all of you! May 2022 bring you love, health and adventure.