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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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LIVING HARD & LOVING WELL
I've been fortunate to have two older women in my life, both named Grace. Well educated, well read, and vivacious well into their 90s, each has lived life fully and shared her enthusiasm for experiencing all the world has to offer with everyone who would listen. Each of these wise women allowed her curiosity to lead her into explorations others would pass up. Now, at the end of their lives, neither has regrets. While one of my Graces continues to play the piano after supper at the age of 99, my other Grace has "gone to join the ancestors" just weeks short of her 96th birthday. When asked what the rest of us should remember when they were gone, one said she lived an interesting life while the other said she lived hard and loved well. Naturally, anyone who lived through two world wars, a great depression, and outlived two husbands has experienced some hard times. However neither of my Graces dwelt on the hardships they experienced. Instead, they both lived life with intensity and vigor. Author Michael Kup has said, "When you live hard you learn there is no easy way, no reassuring painless road across your great life of discovery. It's not about achieving. It's not about getting there. It's the journey." Neither of my Graces will go down in history for their achievements, although each of them achieved more than most. Neither of my Graces ever felt she had arrived and had nothing more to learn or accomplish. Rather each Grace savored every single step of her journey, even the difficult ones. I give thanks for these two, amazing Graces. Their lives of discovery have been inspirational. I hope I, too, will be able to say that my life has been interesting and that I have lived hard and loved well. I cannot imagine a more satisfying frame of mind in which to leave this earthly plane and join the ancestors.
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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