Amazing grace

Being in my 40s has led to many revelations. Questioning early learnings and continuous pondering. The way forward does not look anything like the path that led here. Its quite sobering to now be understanding life from a completely different point of view. It seems like there can be good in vastly different scenarios, depending on how you look at it. Time and circumstances play a role and in some instances what you may have chosen a few years ago is now what you would intentionally avoid going forward. Time passes. Our appearances change. We gain clarity as we go along. Silence and loneliness have in time become "rest for the mind" and "space to breathe". I observe the way of life of the next generation, learning, absorbing, contemplating, comparing. The way we have lived life growing up and how we conducted ourselves in our early years comes to mind. While noting the nostalgic glimpses to the past, also in the next second recognising the stark contrast to how things are now. Do we have a say in the way forward. Should we correct the younger generations according to our reference or rather step back and allow life to flow and learnings to occur in their own time. Will those younger be open to our interpretation and guidance or scorn it? What would their elders and caregivers have to say to our corrections. Are we over stepping the mark? Perhaps they would do better than us. Its all unchartered waters and only time and individual perception, perhaps retrospective evaluation sometine in future would provide some clues. Wading through masses of unwanted content in social media, which to some is the new platform to share, to find true gems of wisdom, is sometimes exhausting. I guess old souls crave solid connection. Old school values that are timeless and sweet. A clarity in mind, body and soul and respite needed to go on. Its all beautiful, intimidating, fascinating, questionable, and so much more all at once. We are grateful for the lessons and the opportunity to learn again today. The aim is and has been to protect the innocent pure souls who bring delight and peace to our lives, the ones who give us a true glimpse of heaven, the elderly eyes and young laughs who give us a priceless gift of their presence which is etched in our souls.

Every moment with our loved ones is a blessing and every conversation held onto. Many interactions take on a deeper meaning as we begin to understand how precious they are. Having navigated many days, good and bad, routine and mundane, joyous and exhilirating,our heart, mind and soul evolves. What we value as years pass by are the simpler things in life and we are richer in gratitude. It is nice to have all the frills and luxuries, but when you are down to nothing, and life has dealt you many blows, it's a unique experience to still be able to find the joy in moments. It keeps you going day to day. It's a stark contrast to a life once lived, perhaps chasing luxuries but the deeper sense of meaning and sometimes settled resignation to the change and a slowing of speed is also a gift. You realise that having many varied experiences, some which may be better or worse by wordly standards, are still gifts as they help you grow and pay attention to what you may have never noticed before. Life then is never the same.

The aim, strength and willingness to keep going and the reason that motivates you changes as the months and years roll past. The transition from self-centred to self-less, profound appreciation and newfound recognition of the path we have been guided you on by our elders and caregivers, with their best intentions and their countless sacrifices along the way. What we have not paid attention to before and that we have not considered as richness and were just a routine way of life to us, however self-sacrificing and intentional by them, so we may only know a smooth carefree existence, allowing us to concentrate on what we needed to do to progress or just to enjoy perfect days. Hopefully we can all get the chance to repay and enjoy these moments with them going forward, so the appreciation is truly shared and felt.