It's been a hectic, busy couple of weeks. I was in Indianapolis for a presentation and a tornado passed by the hotel. I learned square breathing. I finished my blueberry painting that had been sitting on my coffee table for about a month. I have been doodling like there is no tomorrow. I am addicted to Penny Dreadful and I have been learning to be more forgiving.
I think most of all, I have really been thinking about my life and learning to live in the moment, learning to relinquish control. I came to the realization that the biggest difference between the 17 year old me and the 37 year old me is that at 17, I did not try to control life, manage life. I couldn't. And nonetheless, life was so much more magical.
When I was a teenager life was unfolding in front of me. Therefore, all I could do was live it. As an adult, I feel I want to manage life, instead of living it as a journey that is still unfolding in front of me. I have decided there is no reason life can't be as magical and surprising now as it was in my teens.
So what do you do to keep the magic alive in your life?
13 comments:
How I wish I'd known you were Indy Ana, it's not a terribly long drive! Sorry you were exposed to one of our tornadoes; it may have been the very one which twisted the trees on my cousin's farm so hard it snapped them all.
Magic in my life? My sweetheart, my birthday girl, the path of a hawk's flight against the dawning sky...
I think being 17 was also about not having control, and someone else having more of it (we didn't know about healthcare choices and mortgages, etc.) I understand what you are saying, and I think it comes down to being older and trying to grasp onto what we have more tightly because we KNOW it's fleeting now, and at 17 it seemed like even getting to 18 was taking forever! :)
Allowing for less control is an idea, but I wonder if it's more (for me anyway) about being open to new experiences and being able to actually have them. That made life so wonderful for me! Now that I'm almost 40, I've had a lot of those experiences and there is a lot less adventure. I need more adventure!
I definitely think we tend to do this as we get older - control life and begin "micro-managing". We somehow lose our youthful sense of spiritual freedom and living in the moment. Not sure why that happens, but at least you are introspective enough to realize it, which is half the battle :)
That is so true - mid-life is the most magical journey of all! Once all the excitement of midlife with its renewal passes then there is another hurtle. My fearless cousin who is older than I am said it best "I don't want to become timid!" But never mind that Ana you have a ways to go to that life stage. :)
I dance! LOL! I do ;o) It's hard keeping the magic alive when you are older. So many other things on your mind and things to do! But, you have to take time too look at the moon and do some crazy things once and awhile ;o)
Love the photos ;o)
Big Hugs ;o)
Love your images today! I just observe nature and I am amazed by what I see in my own yard!
I think it helps to look at the World daily with Childlike Wonder and then it remains Magical in spite of the Issues of Life we tend to have to deal with more as Adults than we did as Children.
Blessings from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian
17 wasn't an easy time for me. Those teen years were pure angst . 7 - now that was a carefree, live, laugh, play and enjoy life time. As for finding the mystical ingredients to rekindle those days of innocent childhood . . . well I'm still working on that. :)
I find taking time to appreciate the smallest details of the day helps keep the magic of life alive. Today it was the smell of the rain hitting my plants in the yard.
Love you blog by the way, just found it and it's a delight x
I know exactly what you mean about 17-year-olds and their desire to just live their lives because I have one of those living in my house right now...hahaha... And all she wants to do is enjoy and celebrate life. I try to manage mine more often than not. But kids do rub off on you, and I've learned a lot from my daughters, mostly about living in the moment.
I keep the magic alive by staying young on the inside. My body might get old, but my spirit will forever be 17. I laugh and joke and keep a sense of wonder alive and well.
Oh, I know where you come from, I've been mulling over this the past month and I'm 47, hehe. I find magic in people, nature and music.
Warm hugs
Maarit
It's interesting how you mentioned Penny Dreadful with forgiveness. I too am really into that show (Eva Green is amazing!), and I wonder why you got to think about forgiveness... is it because Vanessa's possession is rooted on her past and how she is haunted by her mistake with Mina?
I am loving your paintings. And I do admire your introspection and self-awareness. What I did was retire. Not everyone can do that, but how my world has expanded in joy and activity ever since!
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