Roy’s Sunday Letter for August 30, 2026
Beginnings and Continuings
Beginnings:
What have you begun in 2026 or have considered beginning? What interests your current focus and energy? There is a tendency, especially as we age, to lessen or embrace of the new or different. A new adventure, cause, music or craft provides an uplift of our eyes, energy and spirit.
In the past did you have a mentor or witness, that encouraged you? For me, I needed a permission from myself to learn my first simple guitar chord, then adding a hesitant up and down strum. To my amazement the sounds to 500 Miles, Down in The Valley, and Amaging Grace, however badly played, stumbled from my stiff fingers.
New start-ups, whether business, civic, or volunteer all have challenges and opportunities. When I first began playing my acoustic guitar, I felt the sounds and energy of my long-ago youth. With each new chord my growing confidence encouraged the next chord or easy play song. What has been your most recent encouragement to take the next step of a new beginning? What else would be helpful for you even today?
Five Possibles to Begin: Consider learning Threads or Blue Sky in addition to FaceBook…..Consider membership on a local community organization Board of Advisors…..Even now give thought o a spring flower garden or adding pots to your porch garden….Go forward in a long-desired trip or cruise….Create or add to an existing schlorship for an aspiring student or one who wants to aspire.
Continuing:
Five Possibles To Continue: Continuing volunteering to fill boxes of rice, beans, and can goods at the Food Bank… Continue as reader to children at your local library…. Continue as a driver for your children or grandchildren to their game or music lesson….Continue being a mentor to someone in your circle of influence or background.
Being counted on is a respected, high value for you, your family, church or civic group. The “how” of being present in today’s world may be in person, zoom, or another digital platform. I join SL readers in learning and becoming comfortable in adapting and shifting in order to listen, be helpful, give encouragement to someone to stay with it, make it through, to know they are not alone.
As a society for the whole of us, what is the impact or erosion of belief and hope when we are not consistent, if our promised word or skills are tossed aside with “I changed my mind.” If Consistency would be an improvement area for you, add it to your ‘I can do this better’ list.
Summing Up:
Both the Beginning and the Continuing are the layers of how we are seen, known, and trusted. And also the layers of how we see, know, and trust others. Both take and give us energy within our shared, common circle and world. As we live closer to these truths we move away from passivity, of being a victim to the events and decisions of others,
At 82, I am motivated to remain creative, draft my weekly page, be brave, disclose who I am, and am not. Your “Open & Clicks” encourage my openness to allow the focus and content to come each week.
Brother Roy, in this first reading of this letter two things jump off the page for me. First, the inclusion of driving kids to activities as an example of something to continue reminded me that there are so many things we do routinely that accumulate to build normalcy for ourselves and others. From making the bed every morning to being the person who makes sure all the lights are off before leaving work, and hundreds of little actions between we give life stability. Just discontinuing any of those stresses the system we all depend on. Second, I realized how much I truly want to be seen, known, and trusted. And one thing I would like to begin, if finding someone else to see, know, and trust. Thank you.
Tis the small parts we lose in my chasing of the large and noisy.
I learn. I change. I serve.
And, not to do so in isolation of others, including your good self
RCB
Good morning Roy and thanks for the letter. Beginning and continuing both great topics..
i am beginning a new walk in my faith. Was baptized in the river last weekend. Feel God working in my heart and very happy about this.
Have recognized and focusing on my commitment to aid the elderly. I am learning this endeavor is influenced by my relationship with God and our duty to serve others.
Keep writing Roy.. and keep continuing to inspire. Happy Sunday to the SL gang.. md
Allow the saving grace of water to lead you into the sweve of elders.
Right time, cause, and you,
Take us with you. We learn together………RCB
I have found Udemy. It has lots of courses on everything under the sun. They often have sales and courses can be as low as 10.99. I have taken a Buddhism course, sketching courses and currently finishing up an NLP (Neurolinguistic Programming) and A Course in Miracles! It is great fun and totally aligns with me bring a lifelong learner. I highly recommend it to anyone who loves to learn new things! As always thank you Roy for your wonderful voice and musings!
A delight discovery
Taking advantage of goodness always a good path.
At this life stage you zooming ahead, showing us the way.
Continue onward……RCB
Roy, thank you for your continuing commitment of publishing the Sunday Newsletter. There are so many types of possible responses to being a responsible human being to self and to others. At this moment of life I am surrounded by a community of elders with similar life circumstances in our lives. Together there is an opportunity to support one another using our individual strengths in community. The special gifts of bonding and sharing can be most important in being aware and responsive in community, caring and supportive and sharing love and commitment for the best possible life. In community we can make a difference with sincere and loving compassionate hearts.
Key Words in your well written Comment: Surrounded by caring….Support one another….Sharing love.
Your Comments will get us through this rough patch.
Stay north as long as you
Come back as soon as you can.
RCB
Homeward Bound!
Using the opportunity of a health issue to consider a radical reset. Path unknown yet.
Continue trying to add value to the livesof those i touch.