As I am committed to a new project, I will be away from my blog for two or three weeks.

Have a great spring!

 

Did You Know??  

While I used to know everything when I was younger, now I realize that I know very little. Case in point: I did not know that when I entered a competition with one other person I would come in third! I also did not know that meditating meant seating comfortably with my eyes closed so I could worry about what’s wrong with my life! And when I went into a store to get a moisturizer for aging skin I did not know that it now costs as much per ounce as enriched uranium! And, I did not know that a will is a dead giveaway!

 

What about you?

= Do you know which word should logically follow: spots, tops, pots, opts. 

= Did you know that a man with a beard can shave several times a day?

= Do you know why the man died of old age on his 25^th birthday?

= Did you know that I’ll always smile back if you give me a smile.   

= Do you know what’s in the middle of Toronto?

= Did you know that something runs all around, yet never moves?

= Do you know what four-letter word can be written forward, backward or upside down, and still be read from left to right? 

 

Mixed answers: Sure, if he’s a barber - He was born on February 29^th – Noon - The letter o – The word stop – I’m a mirror – A fence.

                                                              

 

HOPE

Spring has sprung as the saying goes. The weather in my world has been great in the last few days which made my daily walk along the lake where I live so very pleasant after the cold winter.

            A couple of days ago as I was approaching the walking path, a teacher and a dozen or so young teenage students appeared suddenly. All wearing masks, they sat on the ground under a cluster of large pine trees and the teacher began a lesson. I’m sure the students must have been glad to be outside near a lake instead of inside. The teacher is obviously someone who looks for ways to improve the less-than-perfect situation in which we all find ourselves because of covid. 

            As we still struggle to get pass this deadly disease and look forward to everyone being vaccinated, we know we must continue to be vigilant and listen to the rules, but it doesn’t mean that all is lost. While waiting for a return to normalcy there is still music to be listened to, reading to be enjoyed in sunny backyards or balconies, and love to be shared with our family members on the phone or via video. And there are countless ways to learn new things if we let our imagination soar and discover our hidden talents.

            Despite the restrictions in our lives, one thing that is a constant is Hope with a capital H. It will see us through the remaining dark days, and we must ensure that everyone knows that all is not lost. We only need to find ways to adapt and find ways to turn a less-than-perfect situation into something that will make us discover ourselves.

           

 

           

 

 

 

 

 

 

Never Too Late

A woman I’ve known for a number of years is retiring later this year. She is not yet 60 years old, but the prospect of retirement is not something she views with apprehension. Rather, she is quite excited about the whole thing. 

          She was a stay-at-home mom for a while after her marriage, and raised three children. When the youngest one was in second grade, she decided to rejoin the workforce, and found a job with a large law firm. She enjoyed her work and was fascinated by the process of law. She’s the only person I know who reads law cases for entertainment! Eventually, she took some introductory law courses in the evening and did quite well.    

         One day, she confided in me that her aim was to get a law degree and become a legal aid lawyer. She wanted to help those who need it most. However, her plans had to be put on hold when she was injured in an accident. As she underwent therapy to regain the use of her legs the study of law fell by the wayside. But she was very proud when she was again able to walk unaided

         She wanted to continue her studies, but found it difficult to do it in the evening, so she set out to define her long-term plan. She decided to retire early and go to university full-time which will give her many years to practice law. She will begin full-time studies in the fall. With the credits and the experience she already has, she expects to graduate in just a couple years.

         Some people say that she’s crazy. That she should retire to enjoy life. She intends to do just that. As she told me, her law degree will make her life most enjoyable. Her husband supports her; he himself plans to write a book when he retires in a few years. I admire them both. They make the most of life. They truly believe that it’s never too late to learn or try something new. The bottom line is that retirement is really a time to do the things we are passionate about.