Ahh Family
Through social media I witness my friends, colleagues, and acquaintances, all around the world. They are buying homes in foreign lands, starting new businesses, and traveling the world just for the sheer pleasure of travel.
I watch with great wonder and curiosity, sometimes with awe, sometimes with a hint of envy, most often I am just happy for them. I watch them come and go having adventures and I think to myself, that’s me someday. I do love to travel, and I do love landing someplace where I know no one because of how it expands my awareness. The lifestyle of travel might be in my cards one day, but it might not. The shift, if it comes, will come because I reprioritize my world and choose differently. One of the gifts of aging or should I say ‘sageing’ is that I no longer sit around entertaining regret and wishing my life is different. Now I just accept what is as what it is.
Sunday, my day started at 6:25 in the morning. I got up and had my Sunday morning cup of coffee and then proceeded to prepare a crumb cake that I would be serving later that day to my family. This Sunday is our monthly family gathering. We most often have it in my house since I am the only one that has a table big enough to seat all 12 of us – tight, elbows touching. My day continued by serving my spiritual community, giving a Sunday lesson, and chatting with some of our members. After arriving back home, I prepared a second cake and a salad to complete my part of this collaborated family dinner.
The moment my family arrived the entertainment began because you can’t have twelve people in the tiny space that we have without finding something to be amusing. With their arrival, in a coordinated effort, we completed meal prep, dined, and cleaned the kitchen - all together as one unit. Oh yes, my son’s Pitbull, Magic, cleaned under the table as we ate – someone had to.
Post dinner, we laughed out loud, told stories, and created memories. Via my nine-year-old granddaughter dancing Irish step with music, we traveled to Ireland right in my small living room. The entertainment continued as my older grandchildren sang silly songs that they learned in school and the in-house concert concluded with a rousing round of Yellow Submarine as we all joined in. And, if you want some understanding of business, try negotiating with a determined two-year-old, this will teach you everything you need to know about the art of negotiating. And what would a family gathering at the Pinkleighs be without an indoor snowball fight – yes, every gathering has a snowball fight.
Surrounded by loud energetic children, engaged in conversations with my sons, I see my legacy unfold. Together we create these memories. This is my world, my travels, my satisfaction for now. This is how I can witness my friends and colleagues and bless them, because my world is rich, albeit intimate and local. Love your life and you will never have to wish for something else. Your world, your life, your legacy. Be with it and it will fill you.
