TIME

Lying in my bed, I hear the clock tick and think of you
Caught up in circles
Confusion is nothing new
Flashback, warm nights
Almost left behind
Suitcase of memories
Time after time

~ Cyndi Lauper

I’ve been thinking a lot about time lately. Time is not unlimited. It’s a precious resource. So tell me - “What do you plan to do with your one wild precious life?” {Mary Oliver}

I think you would agree that the world is full of wonder. We must pay attention and enjoy it; yet don’t be mistaken, nothing lasts forever. Everything ends and often too soon. So why am I feeling this way? Why are my thoughts laser focused on time?

First, I’m not getting any younger. I am managing health challenges, specifically the two remaining benign brain tumors (one received radiation in January in case you missed that post). The fragility of life is always in the back of my mind.

Second, we were recently vacationing with a group of friends in Europe when they received word their 38-year old son died of an unexpected medical condition. Mind you he was appeared to be in excellent health. He was an ER doctor and the father of two girls with a son in the pocket due in three weeks. I can’t image the grief his parents, our new friends, are going through.

Third, I have a friend that is healing from stage 4 cancer. She’s remarkable, doing her very best to be mindful of her body’s messages and handle her challenges with both Eastern and Western modalities. I admire her optimism and resolve, yet I’m still scared. She’s important to me. I love her.

Fourth, the Netflix series “Firefly Lane” was so compelling and so well executed and it touched me DEEPLY. It chronicles the lasting and committed friendship between two women starting in high school and into adulthood. The choices each made, the results from the same, the commitment and respect in their relationship, their love for each other, and then an untimely loss that one experienced (I don’t want to give it away). I laughed and cried over and over. It left me with so many lingering thoughts and emotions. And I will never listen to the song “Dancing Queen” by Abba the same way again. Have some spare time? Google it, think of a friend and listen.

I’m seriously rethinking my life, how I want to spend my time, with whom and what brings me joy. I’m trying to figure out what I want to do and how I want to move forward each day, because as fleeting as life is, it is still precious and I want to make it wild.

It is a powerful question and worth repeating ”What is it you want to do with your own wild precious life?”