Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 20, 2023
- The movie Oppenheimer showed us the challenges that come with vision, of speaking truth to power and of living with the outcomes of our achievements. In Oppenheimer, we see goodness, as well as the risks and of serving as the out-front leader.
** We, of the Southwest, have learned a new weather term, Heat Dome. Continual Heat Domes of 105 -110 are too ongoing. The heat limits the outdoors and prolongs the indoors which challenges our energy, creativity, and personal balance. Fort Worth loves concrete and new construction. The cooling green of grass and trees are being replaced with the heat generating concrete of “progress.”
- A possible rewording of The Lord’s Prayer: Give us, all of us, everywhere, our daily bread. In future Sunday Letters perhaps more updating of biblical and faith writings. Recommendations?
** “Prayer means that, in some way, we believe we’re invited into a relationship with someone who hears us when we speak in silence.” Anne Lamott helping us all to understand and practice our faith.
- In America in 2021 there are 37 million single person households. This is up from 33 million in 2011. An increase in women living alone is due to economic gains and employment opportunities. There are 16 million 65+ persons living solo. Research has identified the impact of “Grey Divorce”(which are elders with spouse loss) as a significant factor in the report.
** Parker Palmer, in writing of the importance of an active, alive Democracy, stresses the value of a robust Public Life in addition to our Private and Political Life. Covid and now heat in the Southwest impacts and limits our Public Life. Essentials examples of Public Life include: buses, libraries, parks, public forums, theater movies and plays, coffee shops, farmer’s markets, and more. Palmer states it is in “the company of strangers” we find our truest selves and our truest Democracy.
- Jonah Hill, actor and producer, has released his Netflix documentary of his 2022 therapy sessions with Psychiatrist Phil Stutz. The filming shifts from the traditional therapist – client relationship to the learning and sharing between two persons dedicated to the health and wellbeing of both. Recommend Stutz to gain an appreciation of both Hill and Stutz and a new look at therapy.
** Next SL will have an interview…in the meantime, Beth asked a young waiter yesterday…”Are you in school (he looked young)?” He shared with our group “I am enrolled in Fire Fighter School to begin in September.” Needless to say, Beth gave him a way big tip! Glad we have young men and women pursuing careers that help all of us!
Roy, looking forward to cooler days and being outdoors.
Excellent! I’ve been wondering about all the “heat dome” talk and knew there must be a “legal term” around it. And your prayer/faith writings are a great idea. Cheryl and I had the privilege of attending a Parker Palmer event at our beloved Texas Wesleyan many, many years ago, maybe 30 or so. We have been huge fans ever since. And we will be looking for Stutz as we are big Jonah Hill fans. My weather app shows we will finally drop below 100 degrees on Sept. 4th. Oh my, can we survive until then.
Keep up the good, and challenging thought machine!
My phone says August 28 will be 96. Long range September cooler.
Palmer’s book on Democracy is reading parts of me/us.
Potlucks, porches, neighbors, small groups of listening and finding common ground….more.
CCN’s Good News (a weekly e) documents the value of waving and speaking a hello to neighbor as adding to our mental health and being connected.
And so will be lunch at Babe’s on Tuesday
Whatever we will be, in some way, we will do so together……Roy
So glad to have you back! In Vail where the temperatures are relatively cool, I see so much more interactions. There is constant movement among natives as well as visitors. I will be grateful when the heatwave breaks at home and we can get back to living our lives.
August 28, 96. September will be cooler all month. Beth wanted to go somewhere in August, but we did not. She said she will take Jazz and go somewhere, whether I do or not.
Vail is such a healthy place for you and for the Jim memories so important to you and family. Lunch again in cooler, shady patio. Roy
So glad Harry and I moved to this community in Grand Prairie. Over 100 folks live here. Some choose to not participate in the many classes and get togethers, but the rest of us have enjoyed making new friends with folks who have an entirely different life track. Thanks for your comments. As always, insightful, inspirational, and ripe for topical dialogue. Hugs to you and your sweet Beth.
A paragraph the weekly CNN Good News encourages regular waves and hellos with neighbors. An improvement in emotional, spiritual health. All about being connected, not isolated.
You and Harry are acting on your values and priorities. Good for you both. Roy
I am so glad you’re back with you Sunday Letter, Roy! I appreciate your thought about the Lord’s Prayer, although I also I also pray for the time when, “give us this day our daily bread” means “all of us, everywhere” rather than us versus them.
A good man with good thoughts. Tell me more about “us verus them” Thursday morning.
These are men of values around our library table.
If this was a traditional men’s group (ie not Bible based) the flow would be ever deeper, richer.
Of course, we might loss half the group.
I asked a guy I am getting to know to share an iced tea or coffee.
But what we talk about he asked
Our lives, our elder lives. How we got to be who we are.
He declined. Most men, men have to have a book or menu as protector shield it seems.
I miss the grind of a every Sunday SL. But, I am fresher with 1st and 3rd.
There is more of learn from each other.
Again, doing mmy best to reflect my world, our world. Roy
Re prayer and Anne Lamont: I have a new mantra created from a comment in a twice a month meditation group. The ‘leader’ is a friend of Ram Das and said when he was dying, almost all he would say is- Loving Awareness is everything. So my mantra: Loving Awareness is EVERYTHING; Everything (incl. God) IS Loving Awareness.
I loved the Parker Palmer book, On the Brink of Everything… his own insights and perspectives as well as his quotes of all my favorite people. At our (my) age, death is a constant companion. I spent 3 hours in the ER yesterday due to several days of sometimes excruciating pain in my upper back, just to rule out cardiac issues, which they did, thankfully. I sometimes think that the ‘occasional’ confusion of us elders is due to the preoccupation in our minds depths about our impending departure to parts unknown and only imagined.
Love and Blessings to you and Beth
On The Brink is a favorite here. I am finishing an older book of is, Healing The Heart of Democracy. I will quote in upcoming Sunday Letter.
in aging we/I cross over between Doing and Being. Writing for me is Being.
Yes, my 79.3 is in my thought, but back thoughts not front of spirit or mind.
We be well. I owe you a longer response. This weekend….might use slow mail.
Best your way always…….Roy