It has been quite some time since I have sat down to write much of anything. I love to write down my thoughts and feelings, but have been so occupied, I haven’t found the time to do so. I decided a while back to step away from most forms of online media, especially social media. We also cut the cord to television and have abandoned most news stations. It was a very good decision. My angst about world affairs and politics quickly diminished when we eliminated the angry, hate filled rhetoric from our life. Facebook had to go too, because to me it had become a giant, out of control, opinion machine which presented itself to me every time I went on line. I finally snapped.

My personality has never been the type to be engaged with people 24-7, yet there I was, deep in the middle of all of it. I now look back and laughingly refer to my fb years as my own personal “Stockhom syndrome”, which is where a person develops a bond with his or her captor.

While I may appear to be a very gregarious human being, I am actually happiest in my own nest in my own company with an added person or two with whom to communicate with. Marriage is the perfect union for me. It is warm, loving, comfortable, rewarding, and non competitive. No real pressure here to be anyone other than my real self. We are aging together and as we age, we find comfort in seeing our loved one age as well. If anything, aging endears us to each other, because we are in this together.

I have been busy reevaluating how I spend my time. It is so easy to get caught up in the cyber world and before one realizes it, cyber reality overtakes “living in the moment” reality. The operative word being living. Too often we mistake our internet friends as real friends and we engage with them on line from the comfort of our chair and laptop keyboard. It requires less work on our part to continue a relationship that is only a click away.

Relationship in the first person requires time and effort, but the rewards of eye to eye contact along with body language during a conversation is infinitely more pleasurable. It is enjoyable nurturing a long time friendship where we witness the passage of time as we view the increasing wrinkles on their faces and see their hair slowly going to gray or even white. There is no way to hide behind a photo-shopped picture when you are sitting across the table from each other having a conversation at a meal. There we are in our total unvarnished reality as we sit a couple of feet away from each other in close visual range. Happily, we begin to relax as we see we are not alone in our aging.

There is nothing wrong with staying in touch with friends and relatives on fb if one can control the time spent. I was one of those who became addicted to the whole cyber social scene and looking back I still have some very good feelings about the times spent catching up with long ago acquired friends and childhood cousins. It was great for me while it lasted, however, I reached a point of needing to step back into “the moment” of my every day existence and I am so glad to be back!

On Sunday, Al and I decided to go to the park after church and we enjoyed watching other people picnic, play ball, fly kites, walk and run the paved paths. It was a picture perfect day. The sun was shining and the light blue skies were graced with white wispy clouds. Birds were riding the air currents, swooping and diving alongside of other birds with joyful reckless abandon. Dogs were running to retrieve balls from their owners. Children were laughing and calling out to each other as they enjoyed the day with their friends. It reminded me of my childhood long before the invention of the internet and cell phones, at a time where we had to use our own imaginations to create our own fun. Today, I was impressed to see parents actively involved with their children. All seemed so happy to be there.

Yesterday we went to golf a few holes in the late afternoon. I drove the cart while Al golfed, because I am a very poor golfer. He wanted me to ride along anyway. The golf course was a feast for the eyes because as the day progressed, the shadows got longer and longer as the sun made its way across the sky. The pictures the shadows created were worthy of being in a painting., Taking time to be in the midst of Gods creation frees the soul like nothing else does. To be one with nature is an exhilarating experience. Al and I enjoyed our time, one on one, seeing all the beauty around us together. It is still a such a rush to look at ones partner knowing that our love is as strong as ever embraced by joy and peace just by being in each others company.

NOTE TO SELF!!!!

Listen to Gods beckoning! Can you hear Him when He says “Return to me”?

He wants us to return to real life more often, escape to the great outdoors, which so many of us recognize as Gods creation. Returning to living and loving in real time frees our souls to swoop and glide as giddily as the birds do when they fly and ride the currents of the air. God is everywhere, all knowing, all seeing, and all around us in real life. Life is meant to be a verb where we should be actively participating in all of it. We really do “need” to spend more time in Gods majestic creation, plugging into His infinite power and feeling our souls being recharged. This can positively take our breath away as our eyes and inner being take it all in!

Carpe Diem! Seize the Day! We only have THIS moment in time that is guaranteed! All else is unknown!

 

Jjb/2/18/2020