Finding meaning in life

Time to plant flowers

Yes, even though it seems early for these flowers to appear at the grocery store, it's not at all early: we have already passed the first day of spring here in the Northern Hemisphere, and the first day of autumn in the South. Yes, the seasons keep on coming, never stopping here on Planet Earth as we move from the cold and rainy winter to a hopefully bright and sunny summer. 

Lately, I've been working to keep my spirits up, since it's becoming clear to me that the hard fall I experienced back in February has meant that I can no longer hike long distances, as I work towards being able to walk just a few miles to some longer and more challenging hikes. It will be awhile, if at all. The good part is that I am definitely learning to be patient with myself and taking each day as it comes.

With all of the bad things that are happening in the world right now, I think we need a message of togetherness and true unity. I believe that starts with personal reflection and then we can find kindness toward each other. —Marielle Heller

When I first sat down with my laptop to think about today's post, it was actually yesterday, and I began to ponder what's on my mind. I looked at my favorite websites first, one of which is The Guardian, a really thoughtful UK website that has articles that always expand my horizons. There is an article about What is the Meaning of Life, with excerpts from 15 different people and what they think it is. I find it fascinating, since it's something that speaks to my own desire to find what I think it is. After having lived a fairly long life already, being well into my eighties, it seems that what excites me the most these days is communicating with my peers and finding out how they are coping with all the really awful things happening globally. It's sometimes hard for me to keep my optimistic worldview, but I find it imperative that I at least try to stay positive.

Yesterday, I asked Steve to walk with me to the Fairhaven green, something I haven't been able to do quite yet after the fall. I did make it a bit further along I have managed so far, but I still didn't make it there before I began to feel my lower back and right leg develop some stiffness and a little bit of pain. So we turned around just before the Turner Dock uphill, and went back to our usual town environs. It was a little bit more than two weeks ago, but I am not able to make it all the way to Fairhaven yet. I could have pushed it, but fortunately I have my dear friend Steve to make me feel fine about turning around. We stopped at the Farmers' Market, which was having a non-produce display of vendors selling jewelry, CBD items, and various different items for sale. We bought three delicious homemade cookies and enjoyed them as we walked back to our cars. It was mostly sunny and got quite warm as we walked on the crowded streets. It seemed like everybody was out and about.

I was pretty happy with my progress, and once I got home and settled into my favorite chair, I worked the NYT puzzles that have become a daily tradition for me. I went to bed early, as usual, and woke up feeling almost like my old self. It's raining hard outside, and John mentioned yesterday that he might not want to go to breakfast this morning and just skip it for a change. So I don't know whether we will go or not; he said he would call me. Since it's 5:30am already, I will hear from him in the next hour or so if he decides to keep our regular schedule.

SG had some good news last week, when he got his monthly blood draw and saw his oncologist. He's been on this chemo treatment for over a month now, and the doctor was very pleased with how well he's tolerating the drug, and said his numbers had improved significantly. That was very good news to both of us. I wish there was something I could take for my eyes that would give me such a happy outcome, but of course there isn't. The every-other-month eye jab is coming up soon: the first week in April. I dread it but won't stop until my central vision is gone in both eyes. 

As I sit here writing on my laptop, I can see well enough to read and find the keys I need to use to get this post written and published. I can hear the rain outside, and as I ponder my life, I realize how lucky I am. Although I have lived through plenty of hard times, I have also been fortunate to have a loving partner, good friends whom I care about and who care for me, enough good food to eat and keep me healthy, and the ability to be ambulatory, even if I cannot run and jump and play like I once did.

One of the more interesting stories told in that article about life's meaning is a woman who is a Holocaust survivor, 94 years old, who still travels around to give speeches to those who only know about that awful time through people like her. She has a Wikipedia page, and I read with interest about Susan Pollack. Although she was almost dead on that long ago day when she was saved by the kindness of a soldier who gently placed her in an ambulance. During the next few years, she was able to become a person once again and eventually went to college and got a degree. She married and had children. It's a wonderful story and gives me hope for our world to survive, since goodness and kindness are everywhere if we just look for them.

Everyone is capable of adding something wonderful to our environment, just by allowing kindness to become a guiding principle in our lives. I will spend today, and every day, looking for ways to increase the best parts of life: kindness, goodness, and love. I will smile and watch how that simple gesture can increase the happiness of those around me. Why not?

And until I return here again next week, dear friends, I hope you will have a kindness-filled time ahead. I will be doing my best right here, as I feel the spring in the air, in my step, and stroll into joyful activities. I wish you all good things, dear ones, and hopefully we will meet here again next week. Be well.