The holidays have been put away, as we say. What a relief to return to a simpler day-to-day existence. No, existence isn’t the word I want, for it lacks soul. It connotes making it through the day, and although that’s the way for us sometimes, we don’t want that. My thesaurus offers ‘survival’, with ‘extinction’ as the antonym, so you can see, existence is not quite it.
I’ll have to settle for being, day-to-day being, which may sound rather awkward, but it’s what I’m reaching for. Much of the solitude that I long for has to do with being; sitting, walking, reading, writing, praying, all at whim, not because of obligation. Turning 74 a few days ago helps this being feel right—one of the benefits of ageism. I’m done with most of my obligations.
Snow has been falling since 1 AM Thursday and now it is 7 AM on Friday. Only 8 or so inches here but more in Boston and more still at the cottage. By the time I get there on Saturday the driveway will have been plowed and all I’ll have to do is shovel the steps.
Right now there is solitude here at home. Being is a state of mind, and so, here I am, being, minus the walking.
I’ll have to settle for being, day-to-day being, which may sound rather awkward, but it’s what I’m reaching for. Much of the solitude that I long for has to do with being; sitting, walking, reading, writing, praying, all at whim, not because of obligation. Turning 74 a few days ago helps this being feel right—one of the benefits of ageism. I’m done with most of my obligations.
Snow has been falling since 1 AM Thursday and now it is 7 AM on Friday. Only 8 or so inches here but more in Boston and more still at the cottage. By the time I get there on Saturday the driveway will have been plowed and all I’ll have to do is shovel the steps.
Right now there is solitude here at home. Being is a state of mind, and so, here I am, being, minus the walking.