Images cascading through my mind. Family, friends, moments in time. Little miracles, inspiration, passion. Mental clickbooks of past adventures. Memories of our heritage, our parents, our lives. Those that are good to us and for us reflecting just a small snapshot in this journey of living life.

As I sit here at my desk, my head swimming with personal mission statements, pathways to the future, opportunities found and lost.  Pats on the back, receiving compliments, understanding me, seeing you. Spiritual work, self-care and hope. The definitions that surround us, weaving inside and out. How do others see us? How do those we love see us?  In pondering the journey of life, I find that time is one of the greatest assets.

Building a better me takes commitment and time.

To slow down and pay attention, to be present in each moment, to thoughtfully choose who I want to be and who I want to spend time with. I think being a senior brings a lot of this to mind. However, it’s not hard to guess why time’s passages are heavy in my current thinking—my son is getting married this weekend, and I’m feeling overwhelmed with the gratitude of life. 

I know that the gratefulness I feel is a reflection of the inner work I have done. And to say I’m a work in progress is an understatement. Parenting, challenges, soul nurturing, forgiving and forgetting are ongoing. However, striving to repair, fix and nurture my inner self, my soul, where all the truths seem to be is a work worth doing. The goal is to find the courage to some day be fully open to loving and being loved. I see the possibilies, and trust that “some day” will eventually become an every day connection.

With peace, love and laughter,

Joe Dunne, Publisher