“Remember, tomorrow is promised to no
one.”
-Walter Payton
My life, of course, creates the fodder for what I write. I
have begun to realize that experience, be it good or bad, holds within it the
opportunity to seek grace and uncover wisdom.
Such was the source of the Timeless Waters blog for March of
this year, and alerted by the message that my post contained, an old friend
contacted me. Speaking to me in a language I could understand, he referenced an
experience I wrote about in my book, Timeless
Waters, and opened a dialog about where I was in my life. Of all that
conversation contained, there was one thing he said that has stuck with me the
most; “What do you want the next half of your life to be about?” He is indeed a
wise man.
I took a few weeks and let that simmer. My young to middle
adulthood had been about working hard; building my career, a family, a home and
a life. Wrapped up in those things are my values of service to humanity,
productivity, success, accomplishment, stability, and so forth. All those
endeavors were worthwhile and are the foundation of where I am today. I have no
regrets, but a new season of life is upon me, and with that comes the question:
what do I want that to look like?
Joy was the word that came to mind; and a life fully lived.
Living life fully would mean living a little differently; creating new patterns
in my existence to balance out the paths of experience so well traveled the
first forty five years. Joy, spontaneity, time for recreation, and tending to
my list of dreams—this was what I wanted and was where I would start.
After a solo-trip to Utah
to explore Bryce Canyon
and Zion National
Park-- an experience that fit my newly
established criteria-- I told my sons I wanted them to hike the Narrows with me for my 50th birthday. What could be more exhilarating than a ten
mile hike through the Virgin River in the heart of Zion , with 1500 feet canyon walls towering on
both sides? My youngest, now 12, asked “why are we going to wait until your
50?” He had a very good point. Two
months after that conversation, I found myself hiking the Narrows with my boys,
as well as Bryce and the Grand Canyon . It was
a literally a dream come true. I am still not sure how I made that a reality.
Come to think of it, I’m not sure exactly how this entire summer has become a
reality. It is as if I am living my life from a different paradigm, and I hope
it is where I have taken residence rather than a short visit.
Perhaps the quote at the top of the page should be Walt
Disney’s “if you can dream it you can do
it,” rather than “tomorrow is
promised to no one.” Or maybe, just maybe, the two together are the formula
for a joyful life indeed.
Blessings,
Sheryl
