It is quite ironic that I had to reach the autumn of my life before I began to truly enjoy the

[Atticus]

Last edited Thu Apr 28, 2022, 07:21 AM - Edit history (2)

glory of spring.

In younger days, I was "very busy". I had a schedule to keep, deadlines to meet and people depended on me to do my job well. There were years when I "just couldn't find time" to get away on vacation.

It is not that I did not see northbound geese, budding trees, greening grass and a flush of blossoms nearly anywhere I looked. It is just that i did not appreciate the wonder of all that and the significance of the new season of fresh starts and possibilities. Foolishly, I assumed that there would be another spring and maybe then I'd be able to "waste time" looking at flowers and listening to birds.

I no longer assume I "will see another spring". When I noticed today that all the trout lily blossoms were gone already, I asked myself if I would see them again. I also realized that I should have started asking myself that decades ago.

This is trite, I know, but because it is trite we too often ignore it: none of us is guaranteed next spring---or next 4th of July---or Thanksgiving or Christmas. Or, even another wake up.

Maybe we should do our best to enjoy each one of these we get.

[niyad]

1. It is anything BUT trite. There is so much beauty all around us, especially at

this time of year, even in the midst of horror, of war, of loss. Being able to see and appreciate that beauty is all the more important. It gives us the strength and resolve to try to fix or end the horrors, because this earth is a place of beauty and love, andvwe deserve it.

You are correct, none of us is guaranteed even the next wakeup. All the more reason to cherish each moment, each scene of beauty, each act of kindness and love.

Peace and blessings, my friend.

[Texaswitchy]

2. Yep.

Reach a certain age and everything looks different.

You never know if it is your last time.

[fierywoman]

3. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes...

[MyOwnPeace]

4. Certainly loving the 'rebirth' that Spring displays.......

and yes, as we 'age' we do tend to consider things regarding 'the future.'

I remember back in 2016 and being sick with the thought that I might not see a REAL President in the White House again. The horror of dying and not knowing that IQ45 was tossed out probably helped shift my hair even more to the gray side!

[walkingman]

5. Totally agree - having been diagnosed with two kinds of cancer in the last 5 years

it is life changing. All the things that I worried about are now mostly meaningless. Once you get that wakeup call about your mortality it changes everything.

Bottom line - try and enjoy everyday as much as possible. I view surviving a life threatening disease as a positive - some people don't get that chance.

We all have a short time here and those that can understand that at a young age are very fortunate.

Peace

[BlueGreenLady]

6. Thanks for the reminder to slow down and enjoy

the sweet unfolding of Spring.

[tiredtoo]

7. Someone once told me

looking back is depressing, looking forward creates anxiety. Live in the present!

[XacerbatedDem]

26. Yes. All we have is this moment.

The future isn't here yet and the past is just a recollection, sometimes tainted by emotion. At 66, I try to just live in the moment each and every day. And the best moment is when I walk amongst nature.

Yesterday, I walked at a park that has a couple of ponds and a track around them, with pumps out in the middle that spray water high into the air which, in the sunshine, creates this beautiful rainbow of colors. But the sun was obscured by clouds and the pumps weren't working. Instead, I noticed two rather large turtles sitting right on top of the device that usually sprays the water high into the air. I generally only see their heads popping up in the water, so it was nice to see what they really look like. And circling the track, on the opposite end were two more turtles doing the same thing. I guess they came up to bask in the sunshine, fleeting as it was. But to see them out like that, it was so cool, I watched them for a long time, even though they rarely moved anything but their heads. Something about that scene just made me feel good inside, took the edge off all my troubles.

Yes, I know, that is a recollection, but one of comfort and a sense of belonging I try to recognize around me daily when I go for my walks, so sue me.

[tiredtoo]

29. Knowing how to enjoy the moment

A gift we all need to use and practice daily. Life is good!

[The Jungle 1]

8. Here is southeastern Pa.

The wild flowers in the woods are in full glory. You have to be careful where you walk. Tiny little tender plants. I even like to see the skunk cabbage.

[MiHale]

34. Skunk Cabbage is awesome...

In early spring as they are opening up skunk cabbage is kinda warm, notice the snow melts around the young shoots, that warmth is saving grace for bees caught out too late, they shelter in it.

[Evolve Dammit]

9. Not trite at all. Just an astute reflection of our lives and how busy we were and now time to enjoy

each moment of each season.

[spanone]

10. ...K&R...

[JHB]

11. Cat's In The Cradle

[Retired Engineer Bob]

21. Bless you for posting this song

I’ve recently had a diagnosis that is forcing me to face my own mortality, as we all must. The immediate future is unknown, it’s given me some time to think about the many things for which I am grateful.

My father and I became friends once I graduated and left home. Prior to that he was my parent, he felt the relationship could change once his responsibilities had been filled.

We went on vacations once a year. Started with 5 years of backpacking, became an annual fishing trip afterwards. The road trips to Canada and back, seeing the northern lights so intense they cast shadows, hearing the call of the loons, fishing quietly in the boat, all things I was so lucky to share with him.



Thanks dad, I miss you

[twodogsbarking]

27. You truly understand that we should remember what we had not what we lost.

Live the life your Dad wanted for you.

[Retired Engineer Bob]

28. Thanks for your kind words

One area I need to improve is making sure that when I pass my husband will be taken care of. I’ve put off financial and estate planning for much too long. I have no excuse for this.

[Atticus]

36. And, I will bet that your dad taught you---as mine taught me---how to tie on a

hook or lure, how to set the hook, how to clean your catch and how to build a campfire.

I think of my dad often, especially when I'm fishing or camping---and I still tell him I love him though he's been gone since '03.

[twodogsbarking]

24. I saw Harry in the early 70s. I think Ravi Shankar was at the same concert.

May have been two different times, same auditorium. This song came later.

[Jack-o-Lantern]

12. Yes, at 76 I too have become very aware of my mortality as time passes...

I have had two very serious illnesses, and every new day is a gift.
Here in Michigan we have four very distinct seasons, and I enjoy every one of them to the fullest…as they say, life is short.

[calimary]

13. Nothing trite about it, Atticus!

You offer a MOST important reminder: enjoy The Now. I’ve started taking snapshots of the leaves all budding and the flowering trees ablaze with color. Almost ridiculously beautiful! REALLY appreciating the seasons where we are now. For all that California offered, there were no “seasons”. I forgot how lush fall was, what with all the leaves turning. Soooooooooooo many different colors of red and orange. I forgot how luxuriously colorful spring is. But there are trees all over everywhere that seem eager to remind me.

GAWD do I love trees! Genuine marvels.

[Joinfortmill]

14. Yup.

[Karadeniz]

15. Who was it who said youth was wasted on the young.....

[electric_blue68]

16. Luckily, loving nature, and being an artist I was pretty attuned....

to 💖Spring(!!!!!!)💖 early on! ☀️🌱🌱🌱

Luckily I had a modest size park a block away to watch
the trees green up. 😌
Not much flowers.

Then we moved when I was 17. A park was now 3 blocks away but it was one of NYC's Big Parks!
Our entrance led right into the long wide walkway that had the wonderful, big (?)elm trees beside it. The long garden was next to the walkway was full of flowers! 💖

For around 10 yrs I'd start going around mid Feb through late May/early June documenting trees, my favorites, and other flowers with a sort of chart, and little growing flower icons that had them peeking up through the ground, buds formung, to full blossomings.

And people across from our apt building had lots of hollyhocks.❤️
We had a fair amount of street trees but not many super tall ones. Back in the early '60s many avenues including most of our 5-6 story Elm trees were cut bc of Dutch Elm disease. 😭 So restoration took time.

I rejoice every spring when little green shoots start showing up, the buds peeking out.

Not trite at all! Enjoy this glorious cycle.

[FakeNoose]

17. Nicely put, my friend

Just the other day - the temperature hit 80 degrees and we had wall to wall sunshine. An uncommon occurrence for April in southwestern Pennsylvania.

The spontaneous thought that popped into my head was, "Oh my God, I've managed to get through another winter!"

WE'VE DONE IT! We've survived another one.

[malthaussen]

18. An irony shared by many.

Golfer Walter Hagen supposedly originated the saying "stop and smell the roses," and that was over a century ago.

-- Mal

[Chicagogrl1]

19. Love This!!

It’s important to stop & take stock. Nature is amazing. Thank you for reminding us of this!!!

[Warpy]

20. The drought is really bad this spring

and so far the only sign has been the stench of forest fire smoke, something that drifts in and out and is in full force tonight with a distinct undertone of burning rubber, wonder if somebody was storing old tires or using them for yard decoration.

The mourning doves are about the only birds I've been hearing. The mockingbird who serenades me from the front yard hasn't made an appearance. I haven't even seen migrating crows.

Spring used to be marked by flowering trees and singing birds. Climate change sucks.

[Tanuki]

22. A E Housman...

https://poets.org/poem/loveliest-trees

"Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.

Now, of my threescore years and ten,
Twenty will not come again,
And take from seventy springs a score,
It only leaves me fifty more.

And since to look at things in bloom
Fifty springs are little room,
About the woodlands I will go
To see the cherry hung with snow."

[flying_wahini]

23. This IS the finish line. Today is all we have.

[twodogsbarking]

25. Middle of Pa and we had snow flurries yestahday. Sun now and 40 degrees f. 4.44 c

[zanana1]

30. When I hear the birds chirping in the morning

It just thrills me. For the first time, I try to notice the differences in their calls. I love it when there are so many of them, they're noisy. It's true that we don't know if we'll see another spring (I just turned 70). I'm not buying any early Christmas presents, either!

[LittleGirl]

31. Unfortunately

I learned far too young that life can be short when my Dad died of heart failure at age 42. I was 15 in 1975 and it changed my whole family.

Life must be embraced or be thrown away. Stop and smell the roses. I love spring and summer and autumn but I dread winters every year.

Not trite at all.

[liberal N proud]

32. For sure

Enjoy everything you can

[tavernier]

33. I was so much older then

I’m so much younger now.

I find myself thinking about this song line so often lately.

[Ziggysmom]

35. Thank You! We all need that reminder from time to time. I find now that I'm over 60

I like my mind much better than when younger. The body is a totally different story, haha.
As we age, we're more self aware, less insecure, and we're not afraid to say no!
I really miss my parents and now can see them more fully as fantastic people, as well as flawed, just like all of us. I now see obstacles more as opportunities and don't get flustered like I did when younger.

Your mentions of viewing nature is a good example of how when we're older, we become aware that we are part of something much bigger than we are. For sure, the most precious resource we all have, is TIME. It makes the appreciation of all the little things a very precious thing.

Wishing the Best to Everyone

[BComplex]

37. I'm in my 70's Atticus, and I've SO appreciated your posts of late.

I think it's awesome that you're enjoying all this.

Welcome home.

[LuckyLib]

38. You prompted so many great responses. Thanks!

[Delphinus]

39. Beautifully

stated. Not at all trite - it is true. Grateful you shared your heart.

[onetexan]

40. So well put. Thank you Atticus!!