"I associate grace and wisdom with age." -Christy Turlington I'm not sure why I thought this was important to put on my life list, but is something that spoke to my heart so I added it. Then, today as I was working on my Month of Challenges at the Lilypad, the challenge was to write a letter to yourself in the future. Boom! Two birds, one stone!
My letter reads: Hello 60 year old Jess! Congratulations on your retirement. As you embark on this new adventure, here are a few reminders about what you wanted from life mid career! Live life with intention. If you do not take your time by the horns, you will spend life doing things for others rather than for yourself. You will have more time during retirement--how do you want to spend it? Read great books, write everyday, scrapbook, visit with family and friends, and sleep if you want! Live like you are loved deeply. The same God who created the marvels of the universe and all of the fish in the sea thought the world needed you too! He gave you Luke, Blake and Jaxon to show you this each and every day too. You have a tribe of friends around you--some old, some new and they think the world of you. Stop worrying about being enough--you already are! Never, ever stop learning. Even though you are “done” working, you are not done learning new things. Make the boys and the grandkids teach you how to use the newest technology and then teach others. Learn how to play whatever the trendy new sport or exercise fad is. Make tortillas from scratch and serve it with a new recipe. The minute you stop learning, you’ll die! Go outside more often! Take the dog (and your husband) for a walk and enjoy god’s beauty. Chase after the grandkids and teach them how to play football and swim. Dip your toes in the ocean (or the creek) any and every chance you get. Don’t worry about how you look in the swimsuit--put it in and dive in--the water is fine and so are you! Love, Jess After finishing this letter, my heart is full. Although writing to myself in the future, I realized that this really is my manifesto for how I want to live my life fully right now too! Off I go--to take the dog on a walk and enjoy the sunset.
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"There is one Metallica. We have many styles--it's called Metallica." -James Hetfield Ok, this doesn't count as a new album--I have listened to it so many times I have lost count. When I saw that it was next on my list, I considered passing it up but hey--why not enjoy a favorite on the way? I did decide that it is NOT great scrapbooking music--it is just a little too intense to be calm while I try to do a new page, but I enjoyed it all the same. Irony-- the next time I got in Luke's car, it was playing there too!
"Everybody is a teenage idol." -Barry Gibb Disco music. A few short years ago if you had suggested this album to me, I would have laughed out loud at you. There was NO way I would have even given it the opportunity. Then, three movies I love (Guardians of the Galaxy (vol 1 and vol 2) and the Martian) featured 70's music in their sound tracks and my instant disdain has melted away into curiosity. So, when I saw what album was up next on my journey, I was intrigued.
Saturday Night Fever was a classic seventies movie that came up on the Saturday afternoon cinema throughout my childhood. I remember vividly the opened scene with John Travolta in his leather jacket playing on the TV and I also remember just as vividly running to do ANYTHING else beside watching an old person's movies! The soundtrack this morning amazed me-- I knew all the songs and found myself humming along with joy at the happy tunes. The dance beats were prefect to get me up and moving on a cold morning and the memories of my aunts listening to this music made my heart warm too. My favorite songs? Of course Staying Alive is awesome. It brought back every dance I've ever attended as well as many nights at the roller rink putting on my best fake disco moves. I was also really in love with the instrumentals throughout the album as I scrapbooked. They were happy and let me focus on what I was doing :) I added several songs to my new playlist and smiled that I found this album on my journey. "Don't worry about a thing, worry about a thing, oh! Every little thing gonna be all right. Don't worry!"--Bob Marley Baby, it is cold outside this morning. The high temperature is expected to be in the low 20's and the windchill is a balmy 11 degrees. As I let the dog out, I shivered and wished for a vacation to the beach. Alas, when it was time to sit down and scrapbook I picked Legend as my next album to listen to.
From the first song, you are instantly transported to the caribbean. I can smell the sun screen and taste and umbrella drink. That is the greatness of this album--it definitely brings you to a feel of love, peace, and the Bahamas. The downfall of this album (in my humble opinion) is that many of the brilliant lyrics are lost in songs that all sound so similar that it is easy to zone out and forget to listen to the meaning. My favorite on the album had to be "Three Little Birds" and its message to not worry. With vacation on the mind, it is easy to forget that I worry to much. I added it to my regular play list to take me back on the warmth and peace of vacation the minute that it comes on. |
AuthorAlmost 40 and tired of the treadmill, I am going to LIVE each day as a new adventure while finishing todo items on my life list. Mom, wife, teacher, geek! Archives
May 2020
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