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Adulting is not for Wimps

  • Writer: kiehart
    kiehart
  • Mar 1, 2024
  • 2 min read


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It may have been Walt Disney who said, “Growing old is mandatory, but growing up is optional!”


I passed my 71st birthday last month and attempted to wrap my head around the aging process. As children, the ‘oldest’ people we knew were probably grandparents, and we never imagined ourselves in their 'sensible' shoes. We thought most of the teachers in elementary school were old, because we were so young. By the time we entered college, many of the professors were closer to our age, and all of a sudden, we transitioned into adulthood.


Remember when we believed we were invincible? We played sports unaware of how our knees and spine would react in the future. By the time we approached middle age, the years passed at a faster rate. Sooner than we thought, retirement was around the corner. At my 52nd High School reunion last fall, we compared replaced knees, heart valves and stints, and arthritic digits. Very few seventy-year-old classmates were unscathed.


Adulting is not for wimps. The responsibilities are endless and with age comes facing mortality and realizing how short life truly is. I’ve attended the funerals of several friends who passed at much earlier ages -- Annie, for one, died at 55 years old. That is difficult to comprehend, mostly because it seems as though it happened recently rather than in the past.


February was jam-packed with sad news: a classmate died, a relative was diagnosed with a serious health issue, and a dear friend suffered a serious stroke. Many friends and acquaintances are battling health issues. For the most part, I’ve dodged many bullets and I don't take that for granted--not for a minute. I realize that the next health issue could be the beginning of the end. With more days and years behind me than in front, I think about what it is that I can do to make 2024 -- my 71st year -- the best.


Live in love, not hate.

Live in hope, not anger.

Live in truth, not rumor.

Live in kindness, not rudeness.

Live in generosity, not selfishness.

Live in peace, not frustration.

Live in joy, not doubt.

Live in movement, not fear.

Live in love.

~ Rachel Marie Martin

 


 

A reminder: If you read Calico Lane, please take a moment to post an honest review on Goodreads and/or Amazon. Reviews help other readers decide which books they’ll add to their To Be Read List. Whether it’s a paragraph or a one-line comment (don't overthink it, a review does not have to be a book report). OR simply check a star to rate the book. Every review and every rating counts! Help Calico Lane reach 100 reviews! If you’d like to post, but don’t know how, here are some instructions: https://www.judykiehart.com/how-to-post-reviews


From my website, the short story, Listen the Board is Talking, which was included in the 2023 NIWA Anthology, Harbinger, is now available to read: https://www.judykiehart.com/listen


My 15-minute one-act play, LEON, which was staged this past Christmas by Readers Theater Unlimited is now available to watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dz7Pv1VBXGI


To see upcoming events where I'll be found: https://www.judykiehart.com/calico-lane-the-book


I'm about as ready as I can be for continuing my 71st year. I'll take the good with the bad, and wish only the good for you!


Cheers!

Judy



 
 
 

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September Post

September isn't just a Month--it's a Mindset

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Photo: Monarch Pass, Colorado, September

Let me begin with a quote that captures the quiet magic of this month: “September tries its best to have us forget summer.” – Bernard Williams.

 

There’s something bittersweet about September. It’s not loud with excitement and energy like July or with sparkle and shine like December. It whispers. It reminds us that change is approaching—and change can inspire personal reflection.

 

In the Northern Hemisphere, September marks the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. The days grow shorter, the air turns crisp, and trees begin their slow, spectacular transformation. Leaves shift from green to gold, amber, and crimson—nature’s final fireworks before winter’s hush.

 

September teaches us that slowing down doesn’t mean stopping—it means preparing. Families switch into school mode. Farmers begin their harvest. Animals start their migration or gather food for the colder months.

 

September is a quieter month. The rush of summer fades, and the frenzy of the holidays hasn’t yet begun. There’s time to think. To breathe.

 

I’ve always found September to be a time of clarity--my 'chill' month. It’s when I take stock of my goals, reconnect with my values, and prepare for the final stretch of the year. For me, it’s about recalibration.

 

So what is September, really? It’s a month of balance, of beauty, of quiet transformation. Observe the changes that surround you each day. Be reminded that change doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.

 

As we move through this month, I invite you to let go of what no longer serves you. And prepare, with purpose, for what’s to come.

 

 

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