There will
come a day when I won’t have the strength to lift my mountain bike up the six
steps out of the basement to get out for a ride. My arms won’t lift it up to my
shoulder, my legs will feel weak, my back ache. There may come a day when even
the thought of riding will be too much.
come a day when I won’t have the strength to lift my mountain bike up the six
steps out of the basement to get out for a ride. My arms won’t lift it up to my
shoulder, my legs will feel weak, my back ache. There may come a day when even
the thought of riding will be too much.
There will
come a day when I might not be surrounded by the good books I’ve read and have
yet to read.
come a day when I might not be surrounded by the good books I’ve read and have
yet to read.
There will
come a day when I say even an hour’s work in the garden is too much and let it
go a little wild and a little overrun with weeds which I despise.
come a day when I say even an hour’s work in the garden is too much and let it
go a little wild and a little overrun with weeds which I despise.
There will
come a day when I won’t be able to settle down to an evening of reading with a
glass of Cointreau to warm my throat.
come a day when I won’t be able to settle down to an evening of reading with a
glass of Cointreau to warm my throat.
There may come
a day when I won’t climb the stairs up to bed and will sell the house for a
smallish, one-floor condo to watch the world that I used to work in.
a day when I won’t climb the stairs up to bed and will sell the house for a
smallish, one-floor condo to watch the world that I used to work in.
There may come
a day when I no longer will want to or be able to cook up a whole dinner in my
beloved kitchen.
a day when I no longer will want to or be able to cook up a whole dinner in my
beloved kitchen.
I’m coming these
days to focus on letting go instead of holding onto. If a massive hail storm
shreds my lovely tomato plants, then, I told Jamie, I’m done with gardening in
this almost impossible climate to work in. Some things, I just am not going to
care so much about anymore.
days to focus on letting go instead of holding onto. If a massive hail storm
shreds my lovely tomato plants, then, I told Jamie, I’m done with gardening in
this almost impossible climate to work in. Some things, I just am not going to
care so much about anymore.
At a point in my life when each
birthday marks not one more year but one less, I have taken to de-accessioning,
getting rid of stuff. Many people when they reach their upper years become
hoarders and collectors of everything, not wanting to part with anything. Not me.
I just took a stack of classical music cd’s to the Denver Public Library. Let
other people hear this wonderful music. I have other versions or am just tired
of it. I periodically prune my bookshelves to take advantage of Tattered
Cover’s trade-in program and get a new book or two.
birthday marks not one more year but one less, I have taken to de-accessioning,
getting rid of stuff. Many people when they reach their upper years become
hoarders and collectors of everything, not wanting to part with anything. Not me.
I just took a stack of classical music cd’s to the Denver Public Library. Let
other people hear this wonderful music. I have other versions or am just tired
of it. I periodically prune my bookshelves to take advantage of Tattered
Cover’s trade-in program and get a new book or two.
Call it
resignation and a sense of limitations, but I want to cut back and cut down,
give away and throw away. I want less. Less stuff, that is.
resignation and a sense of limitations, but I want to cut back and cut down,
give away and throw away. I want less. Less stuff, that is.
I also want more—more good times with
friends, more enjoyment, more fun, more commitment, more energy. Resignation and
acceptance doesn’t mean inactivity or laziness or carelessness.
friends, more enjoyment, more fun, more commitment, more energy. Resignation and
acceptance doesn’t mean inactivity or laziness or carelessness.
There’s a prayer that goes something
like this: Lord, help me let go of the
things I need to let go of and accept the things I need to accept and help me
keep doing the things I need to do and then let me know the difference between
the two.
like this: Lord, help me let go of the
things I need to let go of and accept the things I need to accept and help me
keep doing the things I need to do and then let me know the difference between
the two.
That, it seems
to me, is what wisdom is about.
to me, is what wisdom is about.
© May 2014
About the Author
Nicholas grew up in
Cleveland, then grew up in San Francisco, and is now growing up in Denver. He
retired from work with non-profits in 2009 and now bicycles, gardens, cooks,
does yoga, writes stories, and loves to go out for coffee.
Cleveland, then grew up in San Francisco, and is now growing up in Denver. He
retired from work with non-profits in 2009 and now bicycles, gardens, cooks,
does yoga, writes stories, and loves to go out for coffee.