| In August, here in the mountains of southwest | | | | discuss creative writing.It doesn't matter |
| Virginia, the trees acquire a dull sheen that | | | | what you do -- just that you Do Something! |
| signals the end of summer. Heralded by the | | | | Not doing anything at all is also a choice. |
| Dog Days of summer, it's a melancholy, | | | | There's an old saying: "Do what you've |
| bittersweet season. Daytime temperatures may | | | | always done, and you'll get what |
| soar, the humidity is sweltering, but nights | | | | |
| are cool. In the mornings, a fog rises from | | | | you've always gotten." The important thing |
| the mountains, reminiscent of a Japanese | | | | is, you're never too old to learn new things, |
| painting. And each day is shorter.Stars on a | | | | or to do something interesting just for |
| late summer night are like diamonds in a | | | | you.Getting older doesn't mean you have to |
| velvet sky. This year, August 12 falls on a | | | | stop living. If anything, with time on their |
| Friday, and after midnight, you might be able | | | | hands thanks to retirement, many seniors say |
| to see a spectacular display of the Perseid | | | | they've really started living, at last, and |
| meteor showers at their peak.Slice open a | | | | are having the "time of their life." Being |
| bell pepper from the garden, and you're | | | | active, involved, and interested in life |
| likely to find tiny pale-green peppers | | | | keeps you young, no matter what your |
| growing within. It's as if Nature hurries to | | | | chronological age. Let go of your youth, and |
| replicate herself while there's still | | | | enjoy celebrating your next birthday as a |
| time.Like squirrels that store up their | | | | major Life Milestone. You've earned it!For a |
| winter food supply, we may busy ourselves | | | | timeless lesson in life that has survived for |
| cleaning up, clearing out, readying our homes | | | | over 3 centuries, supposedly found in Old |
| for colder weather. Or we may spend long | | | | Saint Paul's Church in Baltimore and dated |
| moments weeding a flowerbed, allowing our | | | | 1692, remember "Desiderata" by an anonymous |
| thoughts to drift to unknown places. We | | | | writer. This should be read with the |
| wonder where summer went -- how could it pass | | | | heart:"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, |
| by so quickly? | | | | and remember what peace there may be in |
| | | | silence. As far as possible without |
| It's almost as if we didn't notice.Nature | | | | surrender, be on good terms with all persons. |
| gives us little choice but to let go of one | | | | Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and |
| season and get on with another. As I soak up | | | | listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; |
| the last rays of summer sun, I recognize all | | | | they too have their story."Avoid loud and |
| over again that the seasons are a metaphor | | | | aggressive persons; they are vexations to the |
| for Life. We, too, must "let go" before we | | | | spirit. If you compare yourself with others, |
| can move ahead.Letting go is an interesting | | | | you may become vain and bitter; for always |
| concept. It's a technique used not only in | | | | there will be greater and lesser persons than |
| skillful fly-fishing, but in life. We let go | | | | yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as |
| of fear, of the past, of possessions, of a | | | | your plans."Keep interested in your career, |
| lost love. We let go of anger or a problem | | | | however humble; it is a real possession in |
| relationship. We let go of our children as | | | | the changing fortunes of time. Exercise |
| they mature into their own lives, and when | | | | caution in your business affairs; for the |
| someone we love dies, eventually we let go of | | | | world is full of trickery. But let this not |
| grief. In Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, | | | | blind you to what virtue there is; many |
| there's an expression: "Let go, and let God." | | | | persons strive for high ideals; and |
| And in the end, we must let go of life | | | | everywhere life is full of heroism."Be |
| itself.More people in their 50's, 60's, and | | | | yourself. Especially, do not feign |
| older are on meds known as anti-depressants | | | | affection. Neither be cynical about love; |
| than you might imagine. I attribute a lot of | | | | for in the face of all aridity and |
| middle-age depression to the feeling that so | | | | disenchantment it is perennial as the |
| many seem to have, and have expressed to me, | | | | grass."Take kindly the counsel of the years, |
| that they look back on their lives and ask, | | | | gracefully surrendering the things of youth. |
| "Is that all there is?" This seems to ride | | | | Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in |
| in tandem with, "But there was so much more I | | | | sudden misfortune. But do not distress |
| wanted to do!"Begin today. Rekindle a few | | | | yourself with imaginings. Many fears are |
| old, perhaps ancient dreams. You always | | | | born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a |
| wanted to play the piano? Sign up for | | | | wholesome discipline, be gentle with |
| lessons. If you lost ten pounds, you think | | | | yourself."You are a child of the universe, no |
| you'd feel more in shape? Buy a brightly | | | | less than the trees and the stars; you have a |
| colored sweat suit and take low-impact | | | | right to be here. And whether or not it is |
| aerobics. Attend a Weight Watchers group and | | | | clear to you, no doubt the universe is |
| count your food "points." Enroll in a tole | | | | unfolding as it should."Therefore be at peace |
| painting class. Find a continuing education | | | | with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, |
| class at the local high school or community | | | | and whatever your labors and aspirations, in |
| college about Using the Internet, or making | | | | the noisy confusion of life keep peace with |
| pottery, or learning to quilt. Check with | | | | your soul."With all its sham, drudgery and |
| your public library and learn how to join a | | | | broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. |
| group of local writers who meet regularly to | | | | Be careful. Strive to be happy. |