On August 10, 2015 I will be celebrating my 63rd birthday. That’s half way to 126 years, in case you’re wondering. Here are the most important lessons I learned this past year. Some were biggies and some were small potatoes.
1. Teaching three yoga classes a week and practicing every day is very good for me: mind and body.
2. Learning to “Let it Go” is hard work and worth it. As a Catholic school kid, I never let anything go. In fact, I’m really good at still holding on tight to some perfection garbage. This year it was time to delete bothersome junk from my head. Amen.
3. Staying connected to a few, good, soulmate-friends is better than having a long list of half-assed ones. I’m finding that I am losing patience with the daily drama/soap opera and blather that can be ever present, if I let it. Gone, baby, gone!
4. Decluttering and simplifying is harder than I thought. Through the past 12 months I’ve worked to get rid of stuff that doesn’t make me happy and isn’t useful. I’m learning that I don’t have to have a stockpile in order to have what I need. My excesses are most obvious with my books, yarn, fabric and to-do lists! So I’m learning to consistently use the library instead of buying books (unless I really love the book). I’m also learning to work with the fiber I have already bought. So often I go through my stash and realize, this is really good stuff. I should buy this— oh wait— I already did! It has felt good to use what I have, make something beautiful and then enjoy wearing it.
5. I learned that serious medical stuff is wicked scary. A mark on my vaccination ended up being melanoma, and surgery took care of it. It’s one of those, “Hey, I never noticed that” situations— even though I thought I was alert and conscientious about skin cancer. So now I’m learning to be hyper-vigilant but not neurotic about it. I don’t go to the beach until after 4 PM, I’m lathered up with great smelling sunscreen, and I wear a silly, big brimmed hat.
6. Writing is rewriting. I’m working on a couple of writing projects and hear my words as a professor echoing off these walls. Fewer thoughtfully chosen words are better than volumes of babble. Each sentence needs to do something meaningful— not just take up space on the page. Every revision teaches me something new— and I like that.
7. Short lists are better than long lists, which is why I’m so proud of myself at ending this at number seven and not feeling obliged to go to ten!!!
Hope this coming year is the best year yet. I bet it will be. Cheers to all.
d
Yarnsista 
congrats on the coming of the 63rd can’t remember when I was 63 !…some could lessons there, guess we all need to reflect on lessons learned…I start but never finish and then make up reasons why I can’t do something….LOL
thanks for sharing
Yeah, I get it. I just turned 66 and find myself doing many of the same things that you mentioned. There is an old Amish saying that goes like this,
” We get too soon old and too late smart.”
Hello Pscapp,
Many thanks for stopping by. I like the Amish saying and enjoyed reading your blog.
Nice, enjoyed your thoughts. I have adapted a few of them myself!
Hi Jaki, So glad to hear from you. Thanks for reading and commenting. Hope to see you soon. d
Happy Birthday! I wish you a wonderful day! And I love your list 🙂
Thank you!!! I love your patterns!!!!!
Good advice for any age. Thank you for sharing your wisdom, and happy birthday! =)
Many thanks. I appreciate your feedback and your good wishes. Talk to you soon. d
One day soon, I must curl up with a cup of tea and catch up on your inspirational blogs. Thank you for reminding me they are here. It appears from your current post we have been learning similar lessons as we approach “63”! I connected with each and every one through seven 🙂
Hi Dodie,
I’m glad you connected with my post. We definitely will get together in September. Sending big hugs. d
I enjoyed this very much, Sista. #1, good on you! No thing could be more excellent for the soul, body, spirit….I have been practicing yoga (aka Union) for years…..
#5 Fuggedaboudit..Sunshine is good, needed to create Vitamin D…..10-20 minutes a day of sun exposure is all you need…..PS, I had a few melanomas and I took care of them with topical ointment. Some folks discount my “alternative” remedies for various issues….
But you, my friend have an open mind…
Happy Birthday!
Check in with Dr. Christian Northrup….
http://www.drnorthrup.com/
I listen to her on http://www.hayhouseradio.com/ every week….she is not to be missed….She is the guru for all women, especially older women…
Hello My Friend, It’s always good to hear from you. Many thanks for the comments and especially the Northrup connection. Sending big hugs. Hope all is well.