Happy birthday, Elizabeth! That’s a wonderful photo with an interesting reflection, right? I love that “today” will contain a mix of life as you embrace all the questions, the things that need tending, and the people who will benefit from a thoughtful word. I hope there are good things in the day, things of your own choosing, too. In the face of the stressors and the unknown, sometimes being proactive in lining up things we care about is important.
Wonderful lines: “I ask questions as a way of opening the door to possibility, of giving the light a way to get in. We are what we imagine ourselves to be.
We live in tangled times, but some of the threads are golden. The seasons move along. People we love arrive and leave, leave and arrive.”
Many thanks, Amy. It's been a good day -- reflective and heartfelt morning with more light coming through in the afternoon. I guess the questions helped. Very grateful to have you here, and for your thoughts.
I like "another trip around the sun" as it speaks to both the one completed and the one starting. It's why a birthday is is another birth celebration, so Happy Day and Happy Year ahead! Getting older begins repeating the theme of loss on many fronts. How we learn to weave those losses into the tapestry of our lives makes a difference so we can keep moving forward and not get stuck while we mourn and grieve. That said, I believe it's important to embrace the losses and learn from those too. We have such a wellspring of emotions that help appreciate life every day, loved ones and yes, flowers!
Gary, I'm right there with you on looking back and ahead at the same time. It is a privilege to do so. Yes, losses seem to come more frequently now, and I keep hoping to find a word besides loss to describe it. Departures, maybe? That at least captures that the gifts given are not gone. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment.
An image that popped up on my mental screen is a balance sheet, usually showing profits and losses, or income and expenses, deposits and withdrawals. You get the idea. Both Sides Now! Thanks, Elizabeth!
Quick story I have shared elsewhere. I was 9 yrs old, sitting in church one Sunday morning with my Mom and Dad and saw these suited men passing brass plates back and forth on each row of pews. I saw people putting money and envelopes in and I knew my folks had a box of weekly envelopes where they put money and then dropped it into the plate as it came by. I saw people also putting in cash bills. I said to my Dad, "Can I take some out?" He looked at me, smiled, and with his characteristic wisdom and candor, said, "Of course you may, but remember to always put in more than you take out." I did not know at time that would become one of the guiding principles of my life and work.
Happy Birthday dear friend! Thank you for sharing your beautiful post. As usual you relay many thought-provoking ideas, and questions to ponder. I like to think of birthdays as a fresh start, a way to change my approach, change my perspective or decide how I might make the next year better. Your line, "we are what we imagine ourselves to be" is my favorite takeaway today, on your birthday. I'm sure glad you were born and that you continue to share your thoughts here.
I love the the idea of a change of approach in connection with a birthday. Seems like we tend to glom all that onto the New Year when really, for us, the birthday is a truer marker. Thanks for reading, commenting, and being part of my journey, Lyn. Grateful for you.
Oh my. So many things. The golden thread. Your Nancy. Your special day. Yes, savor its scent. Arrive and depart. Depart and arrive. This writing exquisite. Its message also golden. Thank you talented, pure, beautiful soul.
What a sweet comment, Courtney, thank you. I do love that picture of my mom, and even how the light from the window took on a new shape behind and over me. Always grateful for your presence here and for your thoughtfulness. Thinking of you as you convalesce, but I'm all for the slowing down.
Happy birthday, dear Elizabeth. I hope your day is filled with all things sparkly and nice. A dose of calm too for what the USA is currently enduring.
It would be nice to forget about what is to come for just one day - and that's my hope for you. Go berry picking like Sue from Canada, make a luscious cake like Prue from Australia, meet the rock in rough seas - Chub - and just talk. But mainly stay what you are, the calmest, most reasoned person I have ever 'met'. XXXX
The day has been simple and delightful, Prue. No berry picking, I'm afraid, and a sweet swirl of ice cream instead of cake, but certainly a deliciously fulfilling way to celebrate a birthday. Your last thought -- my, goodness. How generous! I often feel that I'm just a jumble of questions in comparison to the firm opinions of so many. I'm honored to know that you find value in what comes out on the page. Hug, hug, hug!
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth! Thank you for articulating these tangled times we are living in so well. That last line really hit me because what else can we do except roll with the punches, inhale the flowers and then let it go out into the universe. Hope your birthday was a fabulous mix of all these emotions and filled with your favorite people. 💚💜
Much appreciation, Natalie. Though I necessarily come back to that "what else can we do" place, I spend a lot of time thinking about whether there's not something, anything, please gods, anything, more I can do in between. I've managed to tuck a few efforts into that space, and still, always, the letting go... Birthday was beautifully simple. Thanks so much for the good thoughts.
What a gift you've given us on your birthday with this thoughtful, hopeful essay. Thank you, Elizabeth -- wishing you many more trips around the sun, and many more moments of hope and joy.
Many thanks, Elizabeth, and it means so much that you felt the hopefulness here. That is almost always my intent, but in trying to also be realistic, I'm never 100% sure it comes off that way.
Happy Birthday!
Thank you so much! Appreciate you being here.
Happy birthday, Elizabeth! That’s a wonderful photo with an interesting reflection, right? I love that “today” will contain a mix of life as you embrace all the questions, the things that need tending, and the people who will benefit from a thoughtful word. I hope there are good things in the day, things of your own choosing, too. In the face of the stressors and the unknown, sometimes being proactive in lining up things we care about is important.
Wonderful lines: “I ask questions as a way of opening the door to possibility, of giving the light a way to get in. We are what we imagine ourselves to be.
We live in tangled times, but some of the threads are golden. The seasons move along. People we love arrive and leave, leave and arrive.”
Many thanks, Amy. It's been a good day -- reflective and heartfelt morning with more light coming through in the afternoon. I guess the questions helped. Very grateful to have you here, and for your thoughts.
Full of wonderful reflections on stress we create or bear.
Thanks, Diane, and gentle support to you. Take care.
Happy Birthday Elizabeth!! beautiful post, and I hope it's a beautiful day
Thank you, Stephanie! The day was mighty fine. Appreciate you being here.
Beautiful writing and a beautiful picture. Happy birthday!
Thanks so much, Rob. Grateful for your presence here.
I like "another trip around the sun" as it speaks to both the one completed and the one starting. It's why a birthday is is another birth celebration, so Happy Day and Happy Year ahead! Getting older begins repeating the theme of loss on many fronts. How we learn to weave those losses into the tapestry of our lives makes a difference so we can keep moving forward and not get stuck while we mourn and grieve. That said, I believe it's important to embrace the losses and learn from those too. We have such a wellspring of emotions that help appreciate life every day, loved ones and yes, flowers!
Gary, I'm right there with you on looking back and ahead at the same time. It is a privilege to do so. Yes, losses seem to come more frequently now, and I keep hoping to find a word besides loss to describe it. Departures, maybe? That at least captures that the gifts given are not gone. Thank you so much for your thoughtful comment.
Transitions is another word that comes to mind.
An image that popped up on my mental screen is a balance sheet, usually showing profits and losses, or income and expenses, deposits and withdrawals. You get the idea. Both Sides Now! Thanks, Elizabeth!
Deposits and withdrawals -- very nice!
Quick story I have shared elsewhere. I was 9 yrs old, sitting in church one Sunday morning with my Mom and Dad and saw these suited men passing brass plates back and forth on each row of pews. I saw people putting money and envelopes in and I knew my folks had a box of weekly envelopes where they put money and then dropped it into the plate as it came by. I saw people also putting in cash bills. I said to my Dad, "Can I take some out?" He looked at me, smiled, and with his characteristic wisdom and candor, said, "Of course you may, but remember to always put in more than you take out." I did not know at time that would become one of the guiding principles of my life and work.
Sound advice!
Happy Birthday dear beautiful Elizabeth!
Keep dreaming big and loving big!
❤️😘❤️
Thank you, Pamela. I'm not sure I can wire myself any other way, but I'm grateful to have a cheerleader!
Happy Birthday dear friend! Thank you for sharing your beautiful post. As usual you relay many thought-provoking ideas, and questions to ponder. I like to think of birthdays as a fresh start, a way to change my approach, change my perspective or decide how I might make the next year better. Your line, "we are what we imagine ourselves to be" is my favorite takeaway today, on your birthday. I'm sure glad you were born and that you continue to share your thoughts here.
I love the the idea of a change of approach in connection with a birthday. Seems like we tend to glom all that onto the New Year when really, for us, the birthday is a truer marker. Thanks for reading, commenting, and being part of my journey, Lyn. Grateful for you.
Oh my. So many things. The golden thread. Your Nancy. Your special day. Yes, savor its scent. Arrive and depart. Depart and arrive. This writing exquisite. Its message also golden. Thank you talented, pure, beautiful soul.
What a sweet comment, Courtney, thank you. I do love that picture of my mom, and even how the light from the window took on a new shape behind and over me. Always grateful for your presence here and for your thoughtfulness. Thinking of you as you convalesce, but I'm all for the slowing down.
Happy birthday, Elizabeth!
Many thanks, Erica!
Happy birthday!
Appreciate that, Kelly. Hope you're doing well.
Happy birthday!
:) Thanks so much, Bryn.
Happy birthday, dear Elizabeth. I hope your day is filled with all things sparkly and nice. A dose of calm too for what the USA is currently enduring.
It would be nice to forget about what is to come for just one day - and that's my hope for you. Go berry picking like Sue from Canada, make a luscious cake like Prue from Australia, meet the rock in rough seas - Chub - and just talk. But mainly stay what you are, the calmest, most reasoned person I have ever 'met'. XXXX
The day has been simple and delightful, Prue. No berry picking, I'm afraid, and a sweet swirl of ice cream instead of cake, but certainly a deliciously fulfilling way to celebrate a birthday. Your last thought -- my, goodness. How generous! I often feel that I'm just a jumble of questions in comparison to the firm opinions of so many. I'm honored to know that you find value in what comes out on the page. Hug, hug, hug!
Happy Birthday, Elizabeth! Thank you for articulating these tangled times we are living in so well. That last line really hit me because what else can we do except roll with the punches, inhale the flowers and then let it go out into the universe. Hope your birthday was a fabulous mix of all these emotions and filled with your favorite people. 💚💜
Much appreciation, Natalie. Though I necessarily come back to that "what else can we do" place, I spend a lot of time thinking about whether there's not something, anything, please gods, anything, more I can do in between. I've managed to tuck a few efforts into that space, and still, always, the letting go... Birthday was beautifully simple. Thanks so much for the good thoughts.
What a gift you've given us on your birthday with this thoughtful, hopeful essay. Thank you, Elizabeth -- wishing you many more trips around the sun, and many more moments of hope and joy.
Many thanks, Elizabeth, and it means so much that you felt the hopefulness here. That is almost always my intent, but in trying to also be realistic, I'm never 100% sure it comes off that way.
Tangled times, golden threads. Oh, I can identify. Happy birth week, Elizabeth. And natal year, speaking of happiness.
Day, week, year -- I'm all in! Thanks so much, Rona.