>>If those I love are not happy, than I cannot be happy too.
I've always felt this way. And, as a parent of three, I added my own variation, that I can only be as happy as my unhappiest child. It's a struggle to throw this off and find my own happiness, esp as we elders watch everything we worked for for decades fall apart. Thank you for the inspiration.
First up....Happy Birthday, Lyn!! Wishing you a year filled with peace, joy, and healing! Your writings bring a lump to my throat, I deeply feel what you are saying. This aging thing is such a curse and a blessing at the same time. Thank you, I needed to hear about blooming no matter the situation. Makes me think of our grapevines, they have a burst of growth as the weather is heating up, but they make an abundance of fruit because of the cool, evenings. It makes me think that we need both the good and the harsh to truly be fruitful.
thank you for sharing this wisdom. as our country falls apart around us I too grapple with how to continue to find joy in life and not allow the horrors of those currently in power to render me powerless. Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday! You're so right that we must not let these so and sos steal our happiness along with everything else they are stealing. Hold the Happiness fort! Person the barricades! It's going to be a long ride.
Wishing you a happy birthday and full recovery from your fall. Wishing Calvin comfort and full recovery also. I am not a praying person but I fervently wish for peace, kindness and sensibility to enlighten the present administration in America. Although New Zealand is geographically far from US we are very aware of the insanity and cruelty meted out by the authority who should be striving to improve the lives of all citizens and is failing. All power to the resistance! May your bountiful garden continue to bring you joy. I am learning to find joy in everyday things again. Reading your words brought me joy this morning. Thank you.
Hi Lyn and happy birthday. Your piece is beautiful and resonates with so many of us. I live in England but we are terrified as we view what is happening in the US and we fear for the rise of some pretty unpleasant populist politicians here. But like you even if I live as long as my long lived father am in the last part of my life. I can only occupy this small space which is my corner of this planet and whilst not forgetting compassion or speaking out when I can hold on to the good, the beauty, and the joy in all the small ways I can. I lived until last March in Wales. Our patron Saint David said “do the little things” & I’m reminded of a character in a PD James novel, an aged priest who keep a record of his daily tasks. When challenged as to why he doesn’t write more holy reflections he responds “is this not the spiritual life the things we do from hour to hour?”. Wishing you and Calvin well x
I love your writing, and so many points you raise are “spot on” as these challenging times bombard our very souls. Stay strong, stay relevant, stay safe :)
Lord, this hit some deep places in my own soul. Recovering more slowly from some physical things, now that I am 64, trying to reconcile working all my life and getting to a point where I could relax and just enjoy life but now the concern about whether or not my money will last, the dumpster fire that is this country thanks to the psycho orange oaf working out his childhood trauma on all of us, and on and on. I just read Wil Wheaton's blog post where he said "joy is resistance" and that hit me hard, too. I agree with you, we can hold these 2 types of awarenesses at the same time, yet, I plan to water the seed that I want to see grow and flourish into beautiful flowers. Thank you for this lovely and vulnerable post.
Wishing you a Happy Birthday Lyn, your latest post is simply beautiful. You have a lovely home and a beautiful partner, use the next few months to have a nice summer together. I am much the same here in a cold winter in South Australia feeling a bit down and fast approaching 70, but we are going to relax, read and make plans for Spring. I look forward to more posts from you, I’m always rereading your posts I just love your writing.
Lovely analogies expressed beautifully. You are the second writer who I follow (Elissa Altman being the other) to draw meaningful parallels between the garden and life this past week. It brings me peace in tumultuous and heartbreaking times. Thank you!
>>If those I love are not happy, than I cannot be happy too.
I've always felt this way. And, as a parent of three, I added my own variation, that I can only be as happy as my unhappiest child. It's a struggle to throw this off and find my own happiness, esp as we elders watch everything we worked for for decades fall apart. Thank you for the inspiration.
Happy birthday, Lyn. You are one hell of a writer: “I must take on the unruly urgency of my roses.”
First up....Happy Birthday, Lyn!! Wishing you a year filled with peace, joy, and healing! Your writings bring a lump to my throat, I deeply feel what you are saying. This aging thing is such a curse and a blessing at the same time. Thank you, I needed to hear about blooming no matter the situation. Makes me think of our grapevines, they have a burst of growth as the weather is heating up, but they make an abundance of fruit because of the cool, evenings. It makes me think that we need both the good and the harsh to truly be fruitful.
Thank you for sharing your uplift, which we all need so badly.
thank you for sharing this wisdom. as our country falls apart around us I too grapple with how to continue to find joy in life and not allow the horrors of those currently in power to render me powerless. Happy Birthday.
Happy Birthday! You're so right that we must not let these so and sos steal our happiness along with everything else they are stealing. Hold the Happiness fort! Person the barricades! It's going to be a long ride.
Your words are so beautifully put together and touching to me.
Wishing you a happy birthday and full recovery from your fall. Wishing Calvin comfort and full recovery also. I am not a praying person but I fervently wish for peace, kindness and sensibility to enlighten the present administration in America. Although New Zealand is geographically far from US we are very aware of the insanity and cruelty meted out by the authority who should be striving to improve the lives of all citizens and is failing. All power to the resistance! May your bountiful garden continue to bring you joy. I am learning to find joy in everyday things again. Reading your words brought me joy this morning. Thank you.
This spoke directly to me. Thank you.
And to me.
Hi Lyn and happy birthday. Your piece is beautiful and resonates with so many of us. I live in England but we are terrified as we view what is happening in the US and we fear for the rise of some pretty unpleasant populist politicians here. But like you even if I live as long as my long lived father am in the last part of my life. I can only occupy this small space which is my corner of this planet and whilst not forgetting compassion or speaking out when I can hold on to the good, the beauty, and the joy in all the small ways I can. I lived until last March in Wales. Our patron Saint David said “do the little things” & I’m reminded of a character in a PD James novel, an aged priest who keep a record of his daily tasks. When challenged as to why he doesn’t write more holy reflections he responds “is this not the spiritual life the things we do from hour to hour?”. Wishing you and Calvin well x
I love your writing, and so many points you raise are “spot on” as these challenging times bombard our very souls. Stay strong, stay relevant, stay safe :)
Lord, this hit some deep places in my own soul. Recovering more slowly from some physical things, now that I am 64, trying to reconcile working all my life and getting to a point where I could relax and just enjoy life but now the concern about whether or not my money will last, the dumpster fire that is this country thanks to the psycho orange oaf working out his childhood trauma on all of us, and on and on. I just read Wil Wheaton's blog post where he said "joy is resistance" and that hit me hard, too. I agree with you, we can hold these 2 types of awarenesses at the same time, yet, I plan to water the seed that I want to see grow and flourish into beautiful flowers. Thank you for this lovely and vulnerable post.
💕 Happy birthday, Lyn!
As always, a beautiful insightful post. I’m also struggling with all the same emotions.
I will keep you and your Calvin in my thoughts. And your words in my heart and mind.
Wishing you a Happy Birthday Lyn, your latest post is simply beautiful. You have a lovely home and a beautiful partner, use the next few months to have a nice summer together. I am much the same here in a cold winter in South Australia feeling a bit down and fast approaching 70, but we are going to relax, read and make plans for Spring. I look forward to more posts from you, I’m always rereading your posts I just love your writing.
Lovely analogies expressed beautifully. You are the second writer who I follow (Elissa Altman being the other) to draw meaningful parallels between the garden and life this past week. It brings me peace in tumultuous and heartbreaking times. Thank you!
Happy Birthday Lyn! I just turned 71 and couldn't be happier. Thank you for inspiring all of us. You give me hope and push me to be my best self!