6 Truisms in Life

You asked for some words of wisdom. Here are a few truisms I like:

1. Treat others as you want to be treated.

2. Know what your priorities are.

3. What comes around, goes around.

4. Have goals for everything.

5. Know what you want, figure out what is the price to get it, and start paying it.

6. Lastly, don’t eat yellow snow.

-Dr. Jonathan Ortman (brother)

Sixty Plus Years

In the sixty plus years that I have been on this earth, I’ve learned a few lessons. Some I remember, some I have not.  Whether or not this happens by choice or by randomness, I’m not quite sure. In honor of Steve’s friendship and 60^th Birthday I am sending some thoughts about the “60’s Years.” Steve asked if there was anyone of his friends that were willing to share in his sixtieth year of life by writing a little about themselves. I met Steve in the mid 1990’s at Scribes Writer’s group in Schaumburg, Illinois. Since he and Lisa moved to Texas, we have corresponded by e-mail, writing about our jobs, our hobbies, family and pets.  I hope what I chose to share will be enjoyed, and that Steve and friends can take something from this writing that will help in their journey toward their sixtieth year and beyond. 

     I’ll admit the older I get, the more experiences I have, the more confused I’ve become.  Confusion insofar that it makes me ask more questions and examine things more closely. At the other end of confusion is confidence.  I have become more confident in many ways. I’ve found that I’m more sure that I can handle situations in my life if I stay true to myself, be in tune with my Creator. This has enabled me to know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be in the big scheme of things. It’s taken me a long time to learn. 

       Gratefulness has become a big part of my life in recent years. As I look around at all the wonderful things that we as Americans have been endowed with is sometimes overpowering.  Yes, there is chaos in our world now for many reasons, but if viewed in a positive manner, can help us realize that it’s time to help each other and to work together to make changes for the better. A good starting point for change is within our family. The rest is sure to follow. 

      As I reluctantly gave in to the ‘golden years’, I realized there’s something to be said for simplifying. As time passed, it became a natural process, a sort of pull toward eliminating all the unnecessary things accumulated during a lifetime. I’ve found as I began to clear the junk from my surroundings, the junk I was holding on to in my mind began to dissipate, my body began to relax.  People who have known me for sometime tag me with the trait of an easygoing person with a sauntering walk. They’re right! I ‘ve worked on this for a long time, the more stuff I let go of, the less stuff I have to carry and the clearer my  mind becomes. It’s an ongoing process, every day I take one more little step. I figure I may be done by the time I am called home. 

        Socrates, one of my favorite ancient philosophers said “An unexamined life is not worth living.”  On the other hand, Robert Fulghum, a more modern philosopher said “the examined life is no picnic.” Somewhere in-between these two guys should be a good balance.   Ah…that elusive life’s balance that seems to always challenge us! 

       There are many issues that I still struggle with in my sixty plus years. No doubt I’ll continue to do so until the end of my days here. I take this as a good sign. I am still learning, still hoping, still listening for the voice within quietly guiding each step I take, that is when I remember to ask. 

 

      Thank you Steve,for your encouragement as a writer and a friend throughout the years.

      Good Luck Steve in your journey through the 60’s.  I wish you continued health, many blessings, most of all love and peace. 

                                               HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!

Sandra Mordini-04/2011

Be Encouraged

Steve, here is my Sixty Years story for you, extracted from my written
memories. Be encouraged, youngster:

In 1950, in England, I applied to the British Colonial Office for a
position in the Colonial Survey Service. I was accepted for service in
the Federation of Malaya. Now I had to have a year's training in
Newbury, in Berkshire, and after that I was headed for another and
exciting part of the world. I wasn’t sure how long this would be for. I
would support Malaya’s independence, but had no idea what the
implications were for me. I was to be trained at Hermitage. This was a
pink army camp about twenty five miles south of Oxford. All the
buildings were pinkwashed, a not entirely popular idea of the C.O.

I went up to London once or twice in the first couple of months and saw
Janet, and then I got a letter from her to say that she had taken a job
as welfare officer at the Pressed Steel works in Oxford! I suppose if a
milk jug has any feelings when it's filled with milk, that's the way I
felt. I brimmed over with the fullness of life and love. Life, in fact,
right then could offer no more that this. Twenty five miles away in Oxford!

One day, months later, leaning on the bridge at Abingdon, I looked
sideways at her with a lump in my throat and mentioned marriage. It
wasn't just marriage. In a few months I was off to the other end of the
world, to the land of Conrad and Somerset Maugham, a country in the
midst of a guerrilla war against British imperialism, and I was an
imperialist. I was asking her to do this too. We looked at each other
and she said yes. I don't remember how she said it; the sky and the
clouds and the running river all shouted it over all the world, and
muffled the world's ears so that I was the only one that heard, a cosmic
secret. How could I feel so breathlessly exhilarated and placidly
contented at the same time? We kissed. I should have been used to this
by now but it was always sweet and beautiful.

We married in 1951. It is now 2011, 60 years later. Last week, talking
to a lady, I said, “Watch!” and I leaned over and kissed Janet. “That is
the same kiss we have been sharing for sixty years,” I told the lady.

Ken

2011 Thoughtful Reflections on 60 Years:

Hi Steve,

Your 60th birthday idea is very good, you are such a creative thinker.
Here is my response..

I think older age can take us unto two (at least two) different 
directions, one going into the past, and one going into the future, 
and there is also a path that learns to stay in the here and now, a 
path that Eckart Tolle talkes about especially in his book titled, 
Now. This could be called the middle path and or walking into the 
center fork in the road, so to speak.

I will be 80 this coming July and my ways of thinking about the past 
is "appreciation", appreciating for everything and everyone, and that 
is all that it is. Not much more than that. The past does count for 
getting us to the places where we find ourselves in the Now, and 
certainly count for some importance.

On the other side, thinking about the future seems to belong to 
another realm completely, A very important reality,  one that the 
logical brain can not seem to form into anything relating to the 
present. Things are in a flux of change and moving very rapidly and 
it seems to be going forward at remarkable speed.

To my way of thinking, we must learn to let go. This letting go calls 
for drastic change in many ways, being we form patterns of ingrained 
thinking over the years. We are finding the importance 0f letting go 
of old patterns and beliefs. Many things such as religion, 
relationships, careers, finances, possessions, and yes, even memories.

  Of course the future is not here and either is the past. All we 
have is this moment and that is so very important. How we entertain 
our thoughts will create tomorrow.

Your ideas and offer for writing about the past sounds like fun and 
could be very interesting. However, I am just not there.

For many people, life at this time, is like floating down a rushing 
stream, we are either going to hang on to what ever we can along the 
way, or we are going to just let go in trust and enjoy the ride while 
looking forward, not in fear, but with anticipation for a brighter 
more beautiful future.

We have entered a new world, the past is fading away, fast, and we 
are waking up to a future not quite within sight, but getting there. 
Creative people, such as yourself are the visionaries and the leaders 
of a new consciousness, and it is beyond any logical description. I 
imagine there will be very little comparison with this present world.

With Love,
Your friend,
Marilyn Howard  3/23/11

taro32@sbcglobal.net

You Have the Power

Stevie --

Still mulling this over, but offhand, here are some things I believe about being 60 years old -- 60 is the new 40.  Maybe 45.  With our medical advances and nutritional/exercise knowledge, we who are turning 60 soon have the bodies, and mindsets, of a 40-45 year old.  That said, you are responsible for keeping your body and mind healthy and young!  You appear to be doing that on both counts.  Also, according to all my nursing and psychology texts, a 60 y.o. is still considered middle aged.  You don't hit old age for another 10 years or so, and again, it goes back to keeping your body and mind healthy and young.  I'm sure you know, as I do, 60 year olds who look, act, and think like an 80 year old.  By the same token, you have seen 60 y.olds who look, act, and think like a 40 year old.  I know people who are in their 70's, early 80's who act and feel younger than some I know who are 60-ish.  You have the power to make your 60 what you want.  To me, it's young! 

Margaret