Thursday, January 9, 2014

893 NGUOUY Part 57 JOY IS AN INSIDE JOB AT EVERY STAGE …

Life is parceled out in stages:
A stage of delight in the every day wonders of childhood
A stage of bashful connections—girls with boys—boys with girls
A stage of intimate attempts—men with women—women with men
A stage of men and women pairing off …
A stage of foregoing peace, quiet and sleep while nuturing offspring
A stage of working toward professional success
A stage of wishing offspring well as they fly free of the nest
A stage of rebirth at the wonderment of grandkids
A stage of attending reunions, wistful of opportunity missed during youth
A stage of unexpected change brought on by existential individuation
A stage of wisdom identifying needs over 'shoulds'
A stage of compassionate forgiveness accepting human vulnerability
A stage of overcoming fear of the past
A stage of embracing love freely and thus more deeply than ever before
A stage of wondering at the fast approach of retirement
A stage of mustering strength as the health of loved ones decline
A stage of wondering at life passing quickly and what had been missed
A stage of accepting the harsh reality that loved ones do not live forever
A stage of intuitive self-awareness into choosing needs over 'shoulds'
A stage of reflecting over making the most of opportunity, every day
A stage of advancing the baton of leadership to responsible offspring
A stage of insightfulness, suggesting joy to be an inside job at every age

When conflicting needs try my mind at this stage of my life …
There are times when my mindset makes me believe that
I have no choice other than choosing one need over another
At other times experience reminds me to brainstorm until
Insight into expanding my current mindset
Suggests a simple plan that actually satisfies needs, all around
And at all times, I work to reconsider decisions that prove to
Give my spirit reason to dive in hopes that
Brainstorming will guide me toward insight into
Inspirational trains of thought, which clarify how best to
Examine emotional complexity until that simple plan
Shapes up inside my mind, offering
My spirit joyful reason to thrive without guilt :)
Upon working to recognize wisdom inherent in
Reconsidering mindsets in need of expansion, I ensure
That my think tank does not close the door on opportunities
Which prove to provide lasting sensations of joy for all concerned

Interesting to note:
Having spent this afternoon with my hospitalized friend, I'm glad to say that when Julie awoke to the news that a total hysterectomy and colon resection had proved necessary with chemo to follow, her spirit rose to meet this challenge without shedding a tear.  On the other hand, one look at her husband, Jerry, and you'd have thought that he'd just been hit by a truck.  And here's why I understand my friends emotional reactions switching tracks:  First of all, it's natural for emotions to swing back and forth, which is why, at times, two heads prove better than one.  Secondly, speaking as one who's actually been hit by a truck, I remember awakening in intensive care with the consious awareness of strengthening my spirit to approach life with a new appreciation for everyone I'd felt blessed to love.   And as you know, I don't have to back track very far to recall feeling like I'd been hit by a truck when Will's cancer was diagnosed—suggesting that—having walked in Julie's shoes and Jerry's, too—my friends switching places made perfect sense to me. 

As Will and I plan to be at the hospital tomorrow afternoon, it's my hope to spend the morning writing about my unexpected emotional reaction during the weeks I chose to relate news of Will's cancer to extended family and friends … 

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