Thanks for the feedback. I'm so pleased that piece resonated. As "helpers" I find I'm better advocating for others to take time for themselves. Now with a condition that mandates rest I'm finding many inner wheels turning that had been quelled by busy-ness. What a long strange trip ...
A long strange trip indeed, but I do enjoy life and everything it has to offer so much. I hope you find some inner peace from your turning wheels. Busy-ness is good at keeping those less noticeable, in silence they can go center stage. Meditation/Mindfulness? Good luck!
A long strange trip indeed, but I do enjoy life and everything it has to offer so much. I hope you find some inner peace from your turning wheels. Busy-ness is good at keeping those less noticeable, in silence they can go center stage. Meditation/Mindfulness? Good luck!
I desperately wish you were both near enough to easily visit, hug, hold eye contact with, and just sit together in the same space, in silence. Our journeys are inexorably linked by way of at least one of those deaths of which you speak, and probably others shared by our over-burdened children. Your observations - and your beautiful book - have meant so much to us and the harmonic resonance on which the words travel strike a secret chord that only those who know profound loss can hear.
Three cheers for "we have to do what we can while we can," which is almost verbatim our mantra these days. I was laid off in February and struggling to find work as a 60 year-old in tech. Looping through my own grief cycles around that, feeling useless and discarded, but also reticent to say "yes" to travel and adventure opportunities. Trying to remind ourselves that this is why we have been saving for retirement, and maybe the timeline won't be as clean and cooperative as it looks on paper.
Our son got only 23 years. I recently helped bury (literally, in a Jewish ceremony) a coworker on what should have been his 43rd birthday as his sons, 3 and 5, watched on. It's not fair, and it's not guaranteed that tomorrow will be here for us. Is this a farewell tour? Every f'n day is. Every chance might be your last, so take it, if you can. I still remember the last time I saw my mother and the last time I say Grant and I had no idea. You replay those moments in relentless detail and try to stiff-arm the Shoulda/Coulda but they are there. So what would you have done differently? Bigger hug and a mindful, present, profound "I love you?" Do it. That's all we have.
Of course, if you are anywhere near us, we will come to you. For now.... even though I've never actually met you, I love you and I am thankful for all you've brought to our lives, including that gorgeous, complicated, love-filled boy of yours.
Thanks so much Bill for this heart felt feedback. Your words are a sweet elixir of understanding. I’m not sure exactly where on the West Coast you are but we are in San Francisco now and will be back later October for a week or so. Sending love.
Very cathartic. You wrote me into remembrance to take good care of myself. Thanks!
Thanks for the feedback. I'm so pleased that piece resonated. As "helpers" I find I'm better advocating for others to take time for themselves. Now with a condition that mandates rest I'm finding many inner wheels turning that had been quelled by busy-ness. What a long strange trip ...
A long strange trip indeed, but I do enjoy life and everything it has to offer so much. I hope you find some inner peace from your turning wheels. Busy-ness is good at keeping those less noticeable, in silence they can go center stage. Meditation/Mindfulness? Good luck!
Love that you are off! Enjoy creating more memories for all. I know of at least one that is cheering from above. Kia Kaha and arohanui
Thanks so much for your kind words. ♥️
A long strange trip indeed, but I do enjoy life and everything it has to offer so much. I hope you find some inner peace from your turning wheels. Busy-ness is good at keeping those less noticeable, in silence they can go center stage. Meditation/Mindfulness? Good luck!
Dear Becky,
I desperately wish you were both near enough to easily visit, hug, hold eye contact with, and just sit together in the same space, in silence. Our journeys are inexorably linked by way of at least one of those deaths of which you speak, and probably others shared by our over-burdened children. Your observations - and your beautiful book - have meant so much to us and the harmonic resonance on which the words travel strike a secret chord that only those who know profound loss can hear.
Three cheers for "we have to do what we can while we can," which is almost verbatim our mantra these days. I was laid off in February and struggling to find work as a 60 year-old in tech. Looping through my own grief cycles around that, feeling useless and discarded, but also reticent to say "yes" to travel and adventure opportunities. Trying to remind ourselves that this is why we have been saving for retirement, and maybe the timeline won't be as clean and cooperative as it looks on paper.
Our son got only 23 years. I recently helped bury (literally, in a Jewish ceremony) a coworker on what should have been his 43rd birthday as his sons, 3 and 5, watched on. It's not fair, and it's not guaranteed that tomorrow will be here for us. Is this a farewell tour? Every f'n day is. Every chance might be your last, so take it, if you can. I still remember the last time I saw my mother and the last time I say Grant and I had no idea. You replay those moments in relentless detail and try to stiff-arm the Shoulda/Coulda but they are there. So what would you have done differently? Bigger hug and a mindful, present, profound "I love you?" Do it. That's all we have.
Of course, if you are anywhere near us, we will come to you. For now.... even though I've never actually met you, I love you and I am thankful for all you've brought to our lives, including that gorgeous, complicated, love-filled boy of yours.
Thanks so much Bill for this heart felt feedback. Your words are a sweet elixir of understanding. I’m not sure exactly where on the West Coast you are but we are in San Francisco now and will be back later October for a week or so. Sending love.