I am sure that time moves faster the older I get! I don’t remember ever going to bed on Monday night and waking up on Friday morning when I was younger! One would have thought that being at school or working would make time pass quickly because you are kept busy. But I’m retired now. I have time to do everything I’ve ever wanted! I start with good intentions on a Monday morning and then realise that’s it’s Friday evening with little or nothing achieved!
I know this sounds dramatic but I can’t believe that we’re at the end of January 2024 already! Thinking back over the last year I try to remember some of the highlights. We went on a Danube river cruise in March for eight days. It was bitterly cold, that’s my main memory, but different and enjoyable.
We visited my son and his family in Boston. To celebrate my husband and my ‘special’ birthdays we took the family to New York for a few days! That was definitely a highlight. My son, husband and I hired a motor home and travelled around Yellowstone National Park. Also very special and filled with happy memories.
My husband, daughter, her family and I went to Australia for three weeks in October. This was also as a celebration of my husband and my ‘special’ birthday. We stayed with my sister and brother in law who planned a trip to the Great Barrier Reef, the Gold Coast and a number of day trips in and around Brisbane. Definitely a holiday to remember with many highlights. Meeting our extended family was such a pleasure and a wonderful time was had by all.
We see my daughter and her family, who live in Scotland, every month. I really enjoy these regular visits and love seeing other parts of our beautiful country. I’ve exercised, seen friends, written poems, prose and stories for a folk club I belong to. I’ve published blogs, albeit not as regularly as I used to!
As I’m writing this I’m beginning to feel that I should take a step back before making any sweeping statements about not achieving anything from one week to the next! If I look through my diary over the last year it’s filled with daily activities. When I take panic out of the equation and stop fretting about time passing by so quickly, maybe it is because I am filling my days. Perhaps I’ve just slowed down and everything takes a bit longer? That’s my glass half empty putting its oar in! Hopefully I’ll never slow down ……..
I’m trying to put a positive slant on my concern. Doing some research and speaking to friends and family, the speed at which time is passing seems to be a common theme. Part of the current problem for me is looking forward to, for example, spring, so wishing the winter months away. This can be said for anything fun planned, weekends with family, meals with friends, special outings, holidays.
Living in the moment is a current mantra bandied about. Before dismissing it out of hand, maybe I should give it some thought. Instead of waking up every morning, looking outside and wishing that winter would soon make way for spring, perhaps I should be grateful for each new day.
I’m sounding patronising but that’s not my intention. Taking each day as it comes and trying to find enjoyment in feeling healthy and grateful for what I have, is nothing new. Through the years I’ve had a number of health scares and experienced a lot of family heartaches. I’m not alone. It’s part of the tapestry of life. None of us are immune to tragedy, fear or even bouts of depression. I’m currently going through a very worrying time with a close member of my family. It’s out of my control and I can’t do anything about it but I can’t just turn it off either. It’s at the back of my mind all the time but I have to remain positive and hopeful that everything will be fine.
Right now it’s really important for me to take one day at a time. I’ve even had to narrow that down to taking one step at a time when life has got particularly difficult. So, even if, for the next few weeks, I feel as if I’ve not achieved anything, I’m going to change my criteria. If I’ve done my exercise routines, met with friends, posted a blog, written a poem and story for the folk club and completed all my chores, I’ll have achieved a lot!
To clear away the cobwebs nothing beats going for a walk in the country lanes outside my home. Something else to be grateful for! So, today has been good! Tomorrow could be better!👠
Jenny Burrell 