When I began writing this, I didn’t plan to post it. It was more of a personal prayer of gratitude for where I found myself. And as I continued to add more to the prayer, I realized that the roots of my current treasures were mired in hardship. I couldn’t help but share it with anyone still on the highway of difficulty. Stay the course, believe, and never give up; that’s the key. Sometimes we have to be very, very patient; but it can be well worth the journey.
Imagine…
-at 60 years old, moving away from your home, a place you’ve lived your entire life, because you can no longer afford to live in the area. Not an easy transition.
-you’ve moved your 97-year-old mom with you, and you are still commuting for work a few days a week back “home,” a 3-plus hour drive.
-you have a million dreams that you would like to accomplish in your new home, a list that will take forever.
Imagine…
-after two years of living in the foothills, your mother passes at 99.
-you spend the year after her passing nurturing your tuckered-out spirit.
-you take a yoga teacher training class inviting your body and soul to heal.
Imagine…
-your employment ends due to an acquisition, and you accept a position in a new field that does not fulfill you in any way, shape, or form.
-you spend three years marking your days for the paycheck at the end of the week while your days on planet Earth are dwindling at an alarming rate.
-you are fired at just shy of 65, the first time ever in your life, accused of something you didn’t do.
Imagine…
-instead of feeling bad, you believe the universe has set you free to make the most of your dwindling days. Within minutes of hanging up from “the call” you race to the garbage can and dump any and all of your work product. Done and done.
-you decide to file for social security instead of waiting until you are 70 and accept a part-time position for no more than 12 hours a week.
-you finally, with a quiet heart and extra hours in your day, start to set down roots in your new community.
Imagine…
-only a few years later, many of your days are finally spent in your garden with Rick instead of the many landscapes you loved and created for your customers over the years.
-that your new “job,” which is not an accurate title for something you totally enjoy, allows you to meet and connect with the people in your community as they enjoy a glass of the best wine in these parts from Rosa-Lucca Estates.
-that your burrowing roots bring many new friendships.
Imagine…
-that a block away live two sisters that you walk with most weeks, chatting about your lives, but more importantly, supporting one another.
-that you join a writing club in your backyard that offers the camaraderie of kindred spirits.
-that new friends introduce you to hobbies and pastimes like playing MahJongg, where you meet six more people you seriously enjoy and click with, one of which helps you build your new yoga class to a crazy number of students for our small community after only two classes.
-or that another MahJongg buddy invites you over after playing to cut some stems from her blooming lilac tree, which is where this ends.
Imagine…
With our roots mired in the mud, if we pay attention to the universe’s gentle, sometimes not-so-gentle, pushes/shoves, we end up right where we should be, laughing out loud at our great fortune.
Lovely!
Love this, Sue! Thanks for writing and sharing.