Here and Now

I'm usually glad when February arrives. Even when the weather is bad, which is normal for February, but not this year it seems. But when it comes, it means January is finished and done with. Why am I glad when January is over? First and foremost, it's the month in which my husband passed away, four days before my January birthday. Before that, as I got older, January signaled that I was, in fact, getting older.

In and of itself, getting older is not such a bad thing. If our minds are mostly normal, it means we've attained maybe a modicum of wisdom just by virtue of living so long. At least, I sure hope I have. I really wouldn't want to relive some of my younger years. Some I didn't deal with too well. Bad and unpleasant things happened during some of them which I sure don't want to relive. Good memories, now those would be a blessing to live and enjoy again, but as the saying goes, we must take the good with the bad. So I'll just stay in the here and now.

My life is not perfect now, far from it, but good things are still happening to offset those not so pleasant. One of the better parts of older life, I've learned to accept myself, warts and all, and to expect those who wish to remain in my life to accept me, too. I accept others, just as they are. If I don't agree with them on some things, well, that's why we live in a free country. Hard as it is to believe, some probably don't think the way I do! And actually that makes the world a more interesting place. I like hearing, reading and discussing how others may see life, if it's in a civil manner. Otherwise I can choose not to engage. And do. And life goes on.