Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 7, 2026
What To Start – Stop – & Continue
Books often begin with a Prologue, then the stories, chapters, and closing with an Epilogue. In this Sunday Letter, I am asking SL readers what they would like to Start, What to Stop, and What to Continue.
To Start: Is there an activity, an event, or perhaps a craft you have wanted to Start. Perhaps something recent or a long-held desire still waiting for your first action or purchase. Do you need a guide who knows about that first stich, C chord, or which brushes would be best? We gain confidence by small successes and building on these, and soon there is canvas of sailboats or your strumming of “Amazing Grace.” I had a dream of playing songs of my youth on a newly purchased acoustic guitar. Five years and I have yet to push my Start button. Perhaps this Sunday Letter will be the motivation for me to do so.
To Stop: B. B. Kings sings “The Thrill Is Gone.” Most times, we know when we have done all we can do in a situation, work situation, a place or a volunteer opportunity. Perhaps not disappointing family or friends keeps you going, not stopping or ceasing what does not need to be continued. There can be financial risk or physical, emotional pain to be considered in your decision. From my experience of getting, it right, getting it wrong, be brave, be wise, and seek perspective from those you trust.
To Continue: Beth and I will continue our practice of meditation, whatever our future location and place. What is an activity or friendship important to you, even vital, to Continue? Library books will continue to find me, front porch wine and cheese with friends is a joy, and slow mailing encouraging notes to friends is a forever to Continue. Beth reminds me to be curious, to share a Gratitude at the end of the day, all these and more are parts of our Continuing together. In many ways, our Continuing defines who we have been and who we are today.
Roy, finding my guitar Start button
To start, there is really nothing I crave to start. There is no guitar in my future but I am grateful it is there for you. I would like to get a handle on my anxiety concerning new things. I need to jump in more and stop analyzing every decision I make, nothing is forever….so stop ruminating over it. Continuing on with my life is probably the easiest thing to do, friends that are always there, new friends that add to my life and good and bad decisions I have made need to be let go of. Continuing on with what gives me joy is what I plan to do.
staerWe all tend to over-think
Part of our problem-solving skills.
You have prepared well for your next Start
Just waiting for the door to open for your future.
You be good people!!
I look forward to meeting you at Roy’s first recital!
Roy, you always have a knack to create a topic that is challenging to put one’s mind around. So what do we do from here? This time in life allows me time to focus on what is most important to me. Spending my “time” in meaningful friendships, engaging in adventures that until retirement there was little time for. We never get “time” back. Time is quite precious in that we have a limited amount of it. I love being in Mother Nature. I love to be emerced in her beautiful dynamics and I love being caressed by her. Sharing her with others, and that includes pets, can be the Icing on the Cake. Being Engaged in Journaling and Sharing it with others is most Intimate to me. It makes me Think, it helps me Connect. Through friendships I am More Complete. Life is still an Adventure. I want to Continue to Reach Out and to Grow. There is So Much to Connect To and there is No Time to Waste As Time Marches On.
Your comments encourage me.
Roy can my start be a begin again? I have learned some Spanish. I would very much like to become fluent. Some recently discovered tools may create a path toward whet you have helped me to pursue.
I find stopping something is best done by replacing it with a better activity or habit. I really eat too much fast food. I would like to replace that with healthy nutrition.
I would like to continue coffee time with Roy Bowen.