Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom (And Whimsy)

Posted on August 2, 2023 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with one comment

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Beauty all around us

 

“Slip slidin’ away,

Slip slidin’ away,

You know the nearer your destination,

The more you’re slip slidin’ away.”

Slip Slidin’ Away – Paul Simon

WARNING. This piece may cause drowsiness. Do not consume just before driving your car. I wanted to write something interesting and provocative this week but because I couldn’t think of a topic, I decided to write about nothing. 1176 words of nothingness.

Has anyone seen June or July? Apparently, they’ve gone missing or at least it seems that way. Did someone put them on speed dial? Did they slip out the back door when we weren’t watching? August has made an appearance but will desert us like a jilted lover too. Once you start seeing the back to school sales, you know that summer is “slip slidin’ away”.

I must admit that this has been the laziest summer that I can ever remember. Ok. So, I walked 800 kilometers in June which doesn’t rate as slothful behavior, but since I came home from Spain, I have been more or less homebound, other than my daily walks. There’s a lot going on in our community and our province but other than going to the Tattoo in Halifax, I haven’t felt the urge to attend many events. Maybe it has something to do with the oppressive heat and humidity lately even though this kind of weather generally doesn’t bother me. Of course, it’s easy to say this when you live in an air-conditioned apartment.

Every day is like Groundhog Day. I get up; have breakfast; go for my 7 km walk; cool down and eat some fruit; shower; read a book; lunch; power snooze; read a book; watch sport talk shows at supper hour; supper; read a book; Netflix. Lights out.

I love early mornings. I keep a window open in my bedroom. I especially love rainy mornings. Waking from a good night’s sleep (which includes two trips to the loo!), there is nothing more satisfying than to lie in bed and listen to the rain. Soothing is the best word I can find to describe this. The birds seem to love it as well. I often lie in bed wondering about the endless possibilities of the day in front of me. I also take a moment to thank my lucky stars. Gratitude affects attitude. It’s not always possible to feel this way especially when tragedy strikes, or poor health befalls us, but when things are going well, being consciously grateful is important.

I take nothing for granted. Being able to get out of bed is a gift. Having the ability to prepare food and the means to do it. I don’t take these for granted. Being able to see, breathe easily, hear and taste. None of these are taken for granted. Having an education to be able to read and have employment are not taken for granted. Having good health and a strong heart enables me to go for a daily walk. I think about people in nursing homes and how they would love to go for a stroll around the block or on the farm as they once did. I don’t take democracy for granted and appreciate the freedoms that come with this. We rarely think about these things until we’re retired and out of the line of fire. When you’re in the trenches trying to pay a mortgage and managing a house full of small children, the last thing you’re thinking about is democracy, unless, of course, you’re trying to decide who will get the last piece of pie!

Savoring the first cup of coffee (or tea) of the day is one of life’s small pleasures. Caressing the cup, the first few mouthfuls are divine. You’re not completely awake and if you’re retired like me and don’t have to rush around to get ready for work, the simple act of sitting and drinking a hot beverage is heavenly. Ditto for wine at supper.

There are many days when my motivation to go walking is very low. There is a litany of excuses from which to draw but I know that “motion is lotion” and even when my back tells me to recline and chill out, I always push myself out the door. I know that after 90 minutes of putting one foot in front of the other, I will feel so much better.

It’s not hard to amuse myself on my daily walk. Invariably, I bump into someone, and we stop to chat. One of the greatest gifts of retirement is not being in a hurry. At this time of the year, everything is in bloom which is a blessing for most of us and likely a curse for people who suffer from allergies. Because walking forces me to slow down and be more observant, I love looking at all the flower gardens in people’s yards. Looking at beautiful things is good for the soul. One thing I have observed over time is the incredible number of different shades of green. The next time you go for a stroll, count them.

And speaking of counting, I occasionally count cars, a throwback to my youth when we would count cars to amuse ourselves on road trips. Yes, from time-to-time boredom sets in and I will guess the number of cars that will pass me in the next kilometer. I know that this seems silly, but it takes my mind off walking especially on these very hot, sticky days. Little things amuse little minds. I also think of ice cream!

Of course, there’s usually a song rattling through my head which often turns into an earworm. For the uninitiated, an earworm is a song that gets stuck in your head, often for days. So, here’s a song that I’m thinking about right now. Hum a few bars and see how long this sticks in your brain!

“See you, in September,

 See you, when the summer’s through.”

See You in September – The Happening

I don’t want you falling asleep, so I’ll skip other parts of my daily routine. You see, it’s not only Jerry Seinfeld who has mastered the art of talking about nothing!

Positivity.

Facebook has become a bit of a trash can. Most of us hate it but it has become an addiction. Luckily there are glimmers of hope. Every second or third day, a friend posts the following:” It’s going to be a great day”. It is so simple but yet, very powerful. If you say it often enough, maybe, just maybe, the day in front of you will be filled with endless possibilities. Thanks, Cubby, for reminding us to think positive.

“Gee, Len. This was so fascinating. Maybe next week you can talk about doing your laundry or taking out the recycling.”

Alternatively, you could watch paint dry.

“You ain’t seen nothing yet,

B-b-b-baby, you just ain’t seen nothing yet,

Here’s something you’re never going to forget,

B-b-b baby, you just ain’t seen nothing yet”.

You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet – Bachman, Turner Overdrive

Have a great weekend.