Guess what we had for dinner?!
When I was a kid, dropping everything, to go play with a friend, was a top priority. The older I’ve gotten and the more responsible, the less I have dropped things to go out and “play”, and the fewer spontaneous invitations come into my life. Late Yesterday afternoon, in the middle of a writing project, and the start of making dinner, a friend called to say that she had just adopted a cat. I felt this surge of delight and wanted to see her…but she lives 5 miles away, I needed to finish my project and dinner….
I closed my computer, turned off the stove and jumped into my car. Off and on for the next hour, my friend and I alternated between lying down on her bedroom floor, talking to her new kitty who was hiding behind a shoe box under the bed, and drinking tea. It was so much fun! Sometimes I have to say no to invitations, but I suspect that most of the time, I have just gotten it into my mind that I need to stick to my schedule. One of my intentions for the second half of my life is to have more fun, be more silly, do things “just because” even if it doesn’t make sense ….life and Spirit are so much bigger than my schedule!
A boy can learn a lot from a dog: obedience, loyalty, and the importance of turning around three times before lying down. — Robert Benchley, humorist
I like to think you are right on, since I like to allow my life to flow in this manner.
More than one person equates a party! You had a party w/ your friend! Good for you! Fun!
Yesterday I decided that I wanted to just hang out at home all day w/ the girls (Labs) and that I did…The sun was lovely, the snow was melting, and the sounds were crisp…. and I learn alot from my dogs! Soaking up sun for one!
Lovely time of year….enjoy
PS..I love your Mary’s Skin Survival Balm…My winter’s rough shell has just disappeared! Thank you for your making your product and for your speedy service!
I experienced major goosebumps when I read this post! Resonated…big time! Your previous “Big Life” post, at 66, helped me begin going for it. I have a very big life to begin with…but what were my priorities? Were the right things at the top of the list?
Sooooo…I’ve been to 50 school-related events for my two local grandsons. My only other two grandchildren are four hours from my home. They’re young and time is fleeting. As a single, self-employed woman with two dogs that can’t come with me to visit my grandchildren…it’s time- consuming and expensive to visit. OK…too much detail. But I’ve made a commitment: big life, right things at the top of the list! I decided to go to my 2nd. grader’s Special Friend day in Manchester, Mass. The cost of gas, the drive (harder as I get older) and the dog-sitting expense ($250 as I’m staying several days since I’m here) would definitely have stopped me previously. But…hurrah!…the time is NOW. To have seen her face light up when she first saw me…how quick she jumped up and ran into my arms…starting to tear up now…PRICELESS.
Taking time to enjoy nature keeps me grounded. You might want to check out the Duke Farms Eagle Cam. It is live broadcast of 2 adult bald eagles that are sitting on eggs. One hatched this week! It is fascinating to watch them care for their young!
I experienced major goosebumps when I read this post! Resonated…big time! Your previous “Big Life” post, at 66, helped me begin going for it. I have a very big life to begin with…but what were my priorities? Were the right things at the top of the list?
Sooooo…I’ve been to 50 school-related events for my two local grandsons. My only other two grandchildren are four hours from my home. They’re young and time is fleeting. As a single, self-employed woman with two dogs that can’t come with me to visit my grandchildren…it’s time- consuming and expensive to visit. OK…too much detail. But I’ve made a commitment: big life, right things at the top of the list! I decided to go to my 2nd. grader’s Special Friend day in Manchester, Mass. The cost of gas, the drive (harder as I get older) and the dog-sitting expense ($250 as I’m staying several days since I’m here) would definitely have stopped me previously. But…hurrah!…the time is NOW. To have seen her face light up when she first saw me…how quick she jumped up and ran into my arms…starting to tear up now…PRICELESS.
Thanks for your posts, Mary…SPOT ON!! Kay xoxo
GOOD FOR YOU And the day didn’t fall apart and you had a great time.
I am laughing out loud Mary, and plotting my long overdue escape from the evening stove! I overheard my husband ahead of me on the trail this morning mumble-grumbling about the “government possibly shutting down”, and I said the only thing he has to worry about is if the kitchen shuts down!
and now you are giving me the impetus to do just that, if only for an evening! I am just giggly at the prospect of turning a knob off and fleeing the house to soak in the spring, which here in the desert is also so gorgeous. Even the most humble desert plants which look half dead most of the year, have their brief and glorious moment in the sun. Why shouldn’t we? Love and sunshine to all!
I have a chinese cookie quote that I carry in my wallet, it says:
“Love yourself first and everything falls into line.”
Right now, I am going to drop everything and go outside in this Spring Weather and Enjoy cleaning my dog run! Full of toys & debris once hidden under mounds of Winter Snow. Really, I will enjoy that….the alternative is staying inside dusting, vacuuming, and paying bills!! Those things can wait for a rainy day. Love to you Mary & all your Blog Fans. Mary Rita.
Living playfully is my aspiration. Thanks for sharing!
Seems we have to get ‘old enough’ to give ourselves permission to be ‘young enough’??! Talk about full circle…
I guess if our government can shut down, then we can declare play days whenever we want too! Now that’s progress.
I’m with you on this, Mary. I think if I played more I would be healthier. Hope I can do this for my second half of life too!
I Love reading your posts!
We miss so much from list when we don’t let spontaneity into our life! I’m glad you dropped your schedule and went out to have some fun and visit your friend and [try to] play with the new kitty.
Did you see the head shots of my dogs? All three dogs got shown this week.
Nancy
http://dogear6.wordpress.com/
Mary, I love this post, actually I love all your posts and this blog and am grateful for days when we humans can stop ourselves from all our busyness and just enjoy life. Hooray for your inner child!
Hats off to you for taking a few moments out of your “life” to go and do something spontaneous. We are so often reminded that life is too short and we need some time to do things that we enjoy.
Once again Mary you are right on with this…thanks for sharing.