Hello dear Reader,
I’ve missed you. Been away for a month, but now back in CA and at my computer. I pray you are in a beautiful way and place.
I thought I’d like to share one of my many adventures of this past month: my attendance in May, with my sweet Laura, at my high school class reunion, on the 50th anniversary of my graduation. Yeah, that’s right, 50th,like in 1960, when the dinosaurs roamed the earth.
I’ve never been to even one of these things, not high school, nor college, so it was quite the experience. Since then I’ve been using the time to digest and process the memory of that event and what it meant for me
During the course of the evening, I remember telling my friend Kenneth who organized the whole thing (THANK YOU BEAUTIFUL KENNETH!) that it was wayy more than a great nite. It was an important nite. At the time, I wasn’t clear on what I meant by that. It was a just a feeling – I hadn’t thought it through yet
Actually though, the first clue I got came in the emailed info package a month before. Included among the expected details such as dress, menu, music, cost and such, was the zinger: “Wheelchair access is available at the main entrance”.
“Holy S*#T!! Wheelchair? High School? What the hell? These two items are not compatible! Well Duh…of course… Michael, get a life! You’re 67 and so are your classmates!
Indeed, as it turned out, one of my classmates was using a walker and could hardly see, another came from dialysis, another from a kidney transplant….get it? Did I ever!
What else was “important” for me?” For one: when, even now, I enter a room full of people, I tend to stay on the perimeter of the room rather than walk to the middle. It was then, and still is, (but less now), my way. Accordingly, when I was in high school, I assumed that I was totally invisible – not even there. Imagine my surprise when many, many of my classmates during our chats, recalled memories of me, of conversations and of incidents we had shared together. Yikes! Not invisible at all! Imagine that!
And, for many (most?) of us, there were conversations wherein other misperceptions were cleared up, records set right, and loving words, which could have been spoken 50 years ago, were finally spoken.
Interestingly, at least in my own exchanges, not once did the subject turn to our doings, careers, accomplishments. No one had the least interest to impress anyone…all finished with that. Our topics focused on sweet memories, affectionate reminiscences, our families, the meaning of life, and all that other “gooey” stuff – not to mention the hugs….soo many hugs! Yay! Not only did I find that important, but as it happens, I do really love “gooey”.
Wonderful too, was the presence, in picture and in word, of 13 of our dear classmates who have since died, but ,who were definitely right there with us. A poignant and useful reminder of just how precious every single day is, and of how lucky we were to be there, remembering them.
I believe that all this is really important stuff. I really do. It was, for many of us in some ways, a healing event – very cathartic.
Now, I live in a very good place. I recommend it. The address is “gratitude”. I have a practice, which helps me stay there, and I’d like to share it with you. It’s today’s “practice tip”, just below:
Practice tip:
Every morning, when I arrive in that brief, sweet zone between sleep and wakefulness, moving from unconscious to conscious, thus aware that my creator is graciously offering me another day of life, I silently recite these five “remembrances.”
Often, when I read or recite these to people for the first time, their reaction is that these are quite depressing and gloomy. Why, they ask would I possibly want to remind myself every day of all this “bad” stuff that is patiently waiting for me?
In fact though, this practice has the opposite effect. Instead, it keeps me firmly in “gratitude mode”, remembering I’m blessed with a loving wife, daughter, family and beautiful friends (old and new) and in pretty good health to boot!
Voila! What do you think?
Five Remembrances
I am of a nature to grow old. There is nothing I can do to escape old age.
I am of a nature to become ill. There is nothing I can do to escape sickness.
I am of a nature to die. There is nothing I can do to escape death.
Everything I care about and everyone I love is of a nature to change. There is nothing I can do to avoid being separated from them.
My actions are my only sanctuary. My actions are the ground on which I stand. I cannot avoid the consequences of my actions.
BTW, attached right here is a lovely song by Van Morrison, which reminds us to live every day to the fullest. You may know it. Enjoy!
Dear reader, please,
Take care of, and be kind to…yourself,
Metta,
Michael
