Fall always seems to be about turning a corner. This is especially true in Jewish life where we are about to observe Rosh Hashanah, the new year. But all of us feel a change at the end of summer. What corner are you turning?
Copies of my 2019 essay collection, Twilight Time: Aging in Amazement, are available directly from me (signed) or from Amazon or your local bookseller.
I want to say that we don't recover. We carry the old year with us, but it's upside down, transformed. By loss, by joy, by memory, by tashlich. It is a lot.
oh boy, my mom died this weekend, my dog a few days before, and two of her oldest friends in the past week. I'm spending a year at Harvard that ends in December, and i'm trying to decide where in Europe I want to live the next chapter... Annecy or Lisbon or stay in London? At 61, am writing a new book, launching a podcast, and emptying/ selling mom's house and maybe our own. Does that sound like a lot? It sure feels like a lot Susie. Today, i'm just lying panting, trying to recover from the past year before the new one starts.
I like to try to find new connections, paths in my life. The older I get the more I enjoy the freedom to think differently. The shapes always seem to emerge if I open myself up to seeing.
We desperately need to see everyone as they present themselves and to find the special nature of all those moments where we can interrupt our preconceived notions and see the newness.
Sometimes newness is also where we re not looking and perhaps even behind us or where we are but we can’t or won’t see it. It’s everywhere we’re able to see v
Perhaps. It may be the illusion(s) created to distract from the here and now, and to give meaning to the ‘us’. The word illusion is certainly interesting.
I decided I have been slowly slipping into the habit of too much screen time. I have never enjoyed group texts, for example, but have gone along to get along. As many of my friends have turned to tv series, more movies and social media, I am still primarily a reader. I especially don’t like text threads as they can pop into my day at anytime and interrupt me, even if I don’t respond. So I’m going to request I be left off those chats. I’m kind of worried as I don’t want to lose contact, but if that’s the way the culture is going, I guess I prefer to be on the outside.
I want to say that we don't recover. We carry the old year with us, but it's upside down, transformed. By loss, by joy, by memory, by tashlich. It is a lot.
oh boy, my mom died this weekend, my dog a few days before, and two of her oldest friends in the past week. I'm spending a year at Harvard that ends in December, and i'm trying to decide where in Europe I want to live the next chapter... Annecy or Lisbon or stay in London? At 61, am writing a new book, launching a podcast, and emptying/ selling mom's house and maybe our own. Does that sound like a lot? It sure feels like a lot Susie. Today, i'm just lying panting, trying to recover from the past year before the new one starts.
Sounds like a lot of disruption and pain and hope all at the same time. It’s certainly a time for some rest to help you process all of this.
Hope sometimes squeaks in. I'm thankful for that.
I like to try to find new connections, paths in my life. The older I get the more I enjoy the freedom to think differently. The shapes always seem to emerge if I open myself up to seeing.
We desperately need more people like you.
We desperately need to see everyone as they present themselves and to find the special nature of all those moments where we can interrupt our preconceived notions and see the newness.
Newness is what's around the corner. Sometimes it beats you over the head, but sometimes it embraces you.
Sometimes newness is also where we re not looking and perhaps even behind us or where we are but we can’t or won’t see it. It’s everywhere we’re able to see v
Do you think the distinction between ahead and behind is an illusion?
Perhaps. It may be the illusion(s) created to distract from the here and now, and to give meaning to the ‘us’. The word illusion is certainly interesting.
Yessss!
I decided I have been slowly slipping into the habit of too much screen time. I have never enjoyed group texts, for example, but have gone along to get along. As many of my friends have turned to tv series, more movies and social media, I am still primarily a reader. I especially don’t like text threads as they can pop into my day at anytime and interrupt me, even if I don’t respond. So I’m going to request I be left off those chats. I’m kind of worried as I don’t want to lose contact, but if that’s the way the culture is going, I guess I prefer to be on the outside.
I try to take a tangential turn every day to help me see around all the corners.
Very intriguing way of doing/being. I think I'll have to try that.