Legacy

Today has been a day of reckoning. So many thoughts whirling around in my head. Yesterday kicked my booty, so today has been throwing mud and other debris my way, creating a path that needed attention because of the surprises of yesterday.

Entering my study, I picked up a book that keeps yelling at me, as if the fact it sits so quietly on the file cabinet (yes, I still have a file cabinet), has no bearing on the outcome of my day. I began a search for whatever it was wanting to tell me, and it didn't take long before I knew.

"The value of our lives is not determined by what we do for ourselves. The value of our lives is determined by what we do for others." ~Simon Sinek, author of Together is Better

The thought processes from nigh on a year, now, have surrounded what I would leave behind when it's time to say goodbye to planet Earth. What will my legacy look like? What defines a legacy, anyway? What does it really consist of? Doesn't everyone get to the place of focusing on their legacy, at some point? Really focusing? Do they ask the hard questions, like, "Just how long will I be remembered?" "How soon will my voice be forgotten?" "What value was my life while living here?" "Just how much have I messed up?" "Will my grand-babies remember me?" I don't know about your thought processes, but those little neurons that fire inside my brain can, at times, over-ride every thought other than the one being focused on at the moment. And that thought explores the universe of possibilities...until I demand it to stop.

This is my conclusion: If my legacy is to be judged by others, let it be by the character of the children my husband and I have raised and the people we have led, or the impact we had in lives of the people around us. Not by how much money we acquired, or by what financial assets we have. That is what we should aim for. Right? We should live our lives for the legacies we want to leave. By the mark we wish to leave behind for the world.

Just remember...it's a journey, not a leisure walk.

And because of that journey, here you will find me...in Mary's World.

Idle Time

Mouth open keeps eyes open 🤣

Having more than a few spare moments today, I thought it might be "fun" to see how much entrance I could gain into the mind of the guy I've been married to for 50 years, 7 months, 6 days, 17 hours, and I'm not exactly sure how many minutes. I highly doubt anyone cares. Even me. However, this type of questioning has been fun in the past, why not see how we've progressed? Right? 😁 

Keep in mind that while the human mind is constantly processing information (regardless of the male species saying they aren't "thinking anything" when asked what they are thinking), there are times when conscious thought takes a pause, allowing for a state of relative mental quietude. So...I'll be gentle with the questioning. LOL. Right...

Here's today's line of questioning:

Q1. Where do you see us in 5, 10, or 20 years?  A1. Probably dead (the kid has a point).

Q2. What are some things you would like to explore or try together in the future?  A2. Nothing (😳)

Q3. What are your biggest fears about our relationship?   A3. One of us dying and leaving the other behind (Agreed).

Q4. How can we improve our communication and intimacy?  A4. Just try. (he hit the nail on the head with this one)

Q5. What are some ways I can support your dreams and goals?  A5. Go on an Alaskan Cruise with me and take a train ride in Alaska...and/or go to Colorado one last time. (Okay. I pick Colorado...but it will need to be a road trip).

Q.6 What is a favorite memory of us together?  A.6 The beach trip to Southport Oak Island, when Chuck gave us the key to his beach house, back in 2019. What a fun trip, meeting the townsfolk, walking down streets lined with amazing shops...and that great coffee shop we found that had the best coffee we've tasted in a long while. Such good memories of that place. Remember the dive we went to on the beach that had a live band?(Yes, dear. I do remember and I totally agree! Thanks again, Chuck!) 

Q7. What do you think is the biggest strength of our relationship?  A.7 We have the same belief system, trust, and loyalty (and I would add perseverance).

Q8. Is there anything you feel like you can't talk to me about?  A8. No (maybe because he knows my response would likely be a very long one, with several rabbit trails because it spurs another thought)

Q9. How do you think I could be a better partner?   A9. Can't think of anything (right 😉😂)

Q10. What's something you've always wanted to know about me but haven't asked?   A10. I know everything about you. (hmmmm...🤔)

I closed the questioning on that point. Do we reallllyyy know everything about each other? Maybe. But I doubt it. It's probably best that way. Some things just need to be between us and God. Those unspeakable events of long ago, don't need rehashing, or dredged up for all to know.

Well, this was fun! Until next time, here you will find me...in Mary's World. 

#lifeissues #ourjourneytogether #memories #beachtrip2019 

 

Thaumatophyllum Bipinnatifidum's Beauty

Love the title of this blog? Yeah. I know. Why not use simple identifiers that will point to the information coming up? Wellll....these days I'm feeling less than connected to the many human minds I once was, while in the fray of a personal business adventure of many a year. And while I'm very happy with the decision of "retirement," talking with those from various nations on a consistent basis, brought a sense of deep observation and inspiration, that I no longer get to experience. So, to keep some kind of resemblance to what I was accustomed to, I find myself diving a bit deeper into areas that may give me a better view of what my hand is finding to do these days. 

I'm still in awe of this change, this pivot in life. Never in a million years would I have dreamed of building a greenhouse so that we might have year-round fruits and veggies. Over the last couple of years I have toyed with the thought of purchasing a small portable greenhouse...the plastic enclosure kind...just so I might have a place for my gigantic Thaumatophyllum bipinnatifidum (Tree Philodendron) house plant, during the winters chill. Instead of visiting with humans, I now visit with plants. It's a little one-sided, so I rely on the internet to feed me information. 🤣

This particular beauty stays outside in a shaded area during the warm months, where plenty of light is there for her...just indirectly. She loves it! Within a couple of years she has grown so large that her leaves take up 3/4 of our 11x14 Library Room. The picture here, is of an almost new round of leaves that she has produced for us. I lost many of the gigantic ones during the transition trauma of going back outside, but she is recovering nicely. First year that has happened and I'm not sure why. Glad she forgave me!

The beauty she brings to our home is indescribable, at least for me. Dennis even loves the look and quality air she brings to our home. BUT...I don't think I'll be able to bring her in this winter, simply because this type of Philly likes temps between 70°-90° and it's been all I can do to keep her happy when she must be inside, surrounded by four man-made walls. If it hadn't been for the flooding of indirect sunlight, she may have pouted more than she did, and even though this philly is decently easy to maintain, she is demanding of balanced temps...that one. Hopefully, the newly-built greenhouse will allow her extended foliage to grace its protective walls and we will both be happy when the temps fall below 50°. Still, I think I will miss the ambiance she gives inside our library room.

Learning more about plant life, here you will find me...in Mary's World. #lifeissues #myjourneyamongtheseen #plantlife #myworldofplants