By Michele D. Baker
Usually I spend the words in my editorial giving fun holidays or relating “five fun ways to spend the summer.” This month, I want to get a little more grateful, and personal.
On August 1, I will turn 54 years old, and that’s got me thinking. I’m not worried about my health, or concerned about losing my money, or finding another career. All that is taken care of. What I’m focusing on right now are all the things that are still on my own personal Bucket List.
There are things on my Bucket List that I’d still like to do, such as learn to play the piano, visit Machu Picchu, take an Italian cooking class, and learn more about wine.
Then there are the really important things: remembering daily to live in gratitude, to act with kindness and compassion, to always leave things a little better than I found them, to be tolerant of people who don’t think/believe/act like I do, to rise above petty squabbles and find the gift inside the lesson.
Because it hit me that although the women in my family live well into their 90s, I’m in the second half of my life. I’m no longer a young lady, but rather a grown woman with some wisdom and seasoning.
And then I think that no matter how old I am, just being alive is a good thing. Because every day is a gift! As Maya Angelou said, “This is a wonderful day! I’ve never seen this one before.” So I’ll open it and see what wonderful things happen.
In gratitude,
Correction: In the June issue, there was a mistake in the Music Flashback article. “Band on the Run” was by Paul McCartney and Wings, not the Beatles.
