Mary O'Connor

As we get older, we have a little less interaction due to retirement, physical conditions and other preferences, like preferring our own company. During these self imposed retreats, we get to think about what was good in the past and what we still want to get accomplished or experiences we still want to have in life. The other day I was having a physical setback and was somewhat frustrated about the limitations of this condition I have been experiencing. Retreat seemed a good solution rather...

Staring at my friend in her coffin the other day brought back a flood of recollections. She always got her nails done and her hair cut and colored. She didn't get a lot of sleep, with a dozen kids, but she did get out there and made sure her nails and hair were good. So many times when we lived down the street from each other I would come in and she'd say she'd slept in her clothes, had stayed up late watching a movie and folding piles of clothes. Sometimes we would run down to the laundramat...

Taking your time. As we age, things don't seem to be as rushed. We tend to prioritize and give ourselves a longer timeline to get things done. Looking back, I used to squash so many activities into one day, especially soccer games, no time for making dinner, drive throughs, lunches, work, second job, all kinds of have tos and shoulds that filled the days. Rushing through all this, I wonder if I noticed other people and their lives, or just what was in front of me? This is a good time to walk...