My daughter Nicole asked how I would like to celebrate my 75th birthday – what my friend Ruth calls my Diamond Jubilee –I told Nicole I wanted to mark this milestone all year long.
My introverted self longs for a quiet year filled with meaningful connections, time in nature, generous solitude and space to write, take photographs, learn and share.
This birthday wish reminds me of my dad, who would say on his birthday that he just wanted to go fishing – be out in nature, enjoy the quiet and bring home a fish for supper. As a child I was puzzled by that, I thought birthdays were for parties and cakes. I still enjoy cake – and now I understand him more deeply
As I walk into this year, I intend to reflect on my abundant journey – on the opportunities beyond what I could have imagined, and the sorrows I never could have foreseen. I want to weave threads into something I can share – with family and perhaps beyond.
I want to keep noticing beauty, being grateful every day, and living into the blessing offered by Jan Richardson:
May you know the work that is yours to do.
May you give yourself to the doing of it.
May the Spirit who has inhabited creation
from generation to generation move through you
with power and with grace.
