By Doug Creamer
Wisdom from the Year
I made it around the sun one more time. I turned another year older and I am okay with that. I really don’t mind adding another year to my life except for those zero years… when I change decades. I had a good birthday weekend. I appreciate all the well wishes from my family and friends.
My brother asked me if I had gained any wisdom on this last trip around the sun. Initially, I drew a blank, but upon further reflection, maybe I did learn a few lessons on this trip. I think one of the most important things I learned was to appreciate every moment you get with those that you love. My Dad typically called me on my birthday, but this year he wasn’t here to call me. The last time I saw him in relatively good health was on July 4th. I remember we shared a fun memory and a good laugh. We all lead busy lives, making it hard to slow down and be present. It’s important to be together and connect with those you love. Our family has suffered a number of losses in the last year and a half.
I’ve been reminded that it is important to celebrate others’ joys. My family has grown by three nieces. It was a great blessing to get the three of them together on Easter Sunday. New babies represent new hope in families and we need an infusion of hope in our family after our losses. The babies are cute and the excitement about them is contagious. We also had a wedding in our family. That was a special day. It was also another way our family grew.
One lesson I am struggling to learn is asking for help. I’ve had to ask for help multiple times this year and I really appreciate those who have offered their service. Lifting heavy things can cause my back some trouble. Climbing on the roof is probably off my list, too. I’ve had to ask friends for help with things around the house. I realize that as I make more trips around the sun that I am going to have to ask for help more often. That’s a tough lesson, but I hope I can bless those who offer their kindness and service to me.
One of the tougher lessons I am still learning is that I can’t be at everything. I don’t like missing gatherings and disappointing people, but I can’t attend every gathering. A friend recently reminded me that we all need some down time. I am finding that I really enjoy days when I don’t have things on my calendar. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy gathering with friends and family tremendously, but I enjoy some quiet moments equally as well.
Another important lesson has been learning to take care of myself. It takes longer to recover from sickness and injuries as I age. Taking walks is good for my physical body but also for my mental health. Eating good food and avoiding foods that bother me is becoming more important. Taking my vitamins and getting proper rest is very important. We have to focus on taking care of ourselves physically, mentally, and spiritually as we grow older.
Some lessons I learned in my garden. Last year I added some soil to help my vegetables grow and I worked hard at getting things planted. Even though I got a late start, I expected a nice harvest. We had a hot growing season last year which reduced my harvest. Critters also helped themselves before I could benefit from the garden. Life is like that. We can do and say all the right things but life might give us a gut punch. We can think that everything is working against us and discover rewards we never expected. Life and gardening are full of surprises, some warmly welcomed and some difficult and challenging.
Those are some of the lessons from this journey around the sun. I want to encourage you to reflect back on your trip and consider the lessons you learned and relive the joys that brought a smile to your face. Life has many ups and downs offering us lessons each step of the way. Remember to hug those you love and let them know how much they mean to you. Embrace the challenges to grow and become a better you. Don’t forget to slow down and smell the flowers, live in the moment, and love those near and dear to your heart. Remember to never stop learning. There are many lessons ahead for each one of us.
Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com
