Roy’s Sunday Letter for January 21, 2023
- Beth and I recently spent an afternoon looking at our collection of annual photo books reflecting our adventures since 2014. Together, we slowly turned the photos of home/gardens, pets, dear friends, and travels. So enjoyable and so important to both of us. Gratitude for this collection of who we have been and are still becoming.
** Robin Sharma, a Facebook post, in her book “5 AM Club” describes how to do a 20 minute exercise…20 minutes reflection and 20 minutes of learning all complete by 6:00 a.m. What would be the 20…20…20 in your club? Consistency and routine can produce the results important to us all.
- The encouraging Comments from last week’s Sunday Letter affirms the importance of the personal, individual ups and downs of life and relationships. Thus, the personal will be an essential element of all Sunday Letter’s to come.
** Due to weather, the local recognitions of Matin Luther King are being held this weekend. Dr. King spoke at a time when words carried meaning and important messages. Thousands rode buses, stood in the sun for hours and music carried messages of hope. Dr. King’s truthful words were spoken in churches, parks, and the Washington Memorial. The commitment to justice for all continues in 2024. From Dr. King, “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.”
- In the past weeks publications and digital platforms have shifted creative resources from traditional ad sales and print articles to digital streaming aligned with A1. For young people the offices of Sports Illustrative, National Geographic, Google, or CNN may have been their first job. There are others working in the same arenas with mid-life obligations, kids, grandkids, volunteering and charity giving. So, when you read or hear the numbers of layoffs and shut-downs, give thought to those individuals and families caught-up in society and business shifts attempting to find the best ways for their lives to continue.
** When did “waiting” get to be a bad thing? TV ads encourage “Use the app, skip the wait.” We wait for a lab test report, to vote and even a line for market self-check-out. Perhaps this week consider a line, a wait an opportunity to slow down, to look around, see something or observe something you may have missed in a faster, faster world.
- Electric cars and solar and wind farms are substitutes for our dependency on fossil fuels. However, what I am reading is the need to decrease our consumption, trading green spaces for cars and concrete. The warming of the climate, rising seas and melting the Artic ice is now upon all of us.
I end this Sunday Letter with a personal concern and worry, with the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual health and wellness of so many friends and peers. If you have family or friends stepping back, becoming disconnected, now is the time to strengthen the connection, provide active support, be present in ways you can be a ray of hope and love.
Roy, in the mix of it all with you
I have six tubs of photo albums in the garage. They have been there since I moved 9 years ago. As you remember Jim was a picture taker. You may have spurred me on to delve into those tubs and relive the good times. I said may, because I am not sure I have the emotional distance to do it. We will see. Thanks for the seed of suggestion.
I know, you know, Lesie knows the tubs are there and each appreciated in the best of ways.
Whether or not you go there is your decision, in time, when ready, and not to be done alone (too over-whelming alone perhaps).
I am upliifed by your reading my SL and your consistent comments of encouragement.
There are times I doube if my efforts really matter, if I am contributing anything of value to anyone.
In the past 2 Sunday’s I have affirmations that I am….so next Sunday I will do again.
Roy
Your words about consuming less….so significant when buying more EVs and solar panels grab our attention. It will take all of us doing our part, but we can turn the ship! Thanks for stating this fact.
I a small group discussion “of our world” I mentioned electric cars and solor/wind. Someone else more alert and aware than I titled these as “substitutes,” not about real change. She is right; I had not considered her truth. Real change is about stopping, decreasing. So, I am still in “learning” class.
Your posting my words from Sunday Letter example of your loving kindness with me, and many others.
I had hot chocolate with friend Saturday at Central Market…delightful on cold morning.
I can do so again any time best for you. I do believe we have more to learn to share, to encourage. Roy
Waiting… patiently waiting.. a rapidly disappearing art form..
I arrived at the Central Oregon Council for the Aging.. home of Meals on Wheels in Bend. I was on time and the staff there was running behind. My containers, for hot and cold meals was not yet ready. I found myself disappointed, impatience, and a bit stressed as I had a list of items to tend to after my delivery route was complete. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks… I needed to slow down, relax, and allow this delay to be a needed opportunity to wait .. patiently, with a smile on my face. Most of the folks there in the kitchen were volunteers just like me. I have prided myself in being patient when wait is necessary, but temporarily lost sight of that goal there in the prep room. My chance in attitude was a ray of sunshine…. I put a smile on my face, offered to help, and began complimenting those around me.. talk about a tide change.. you’re so right on with this topic Roy.. society and our world tries to speed us up, sometimes demands it.. we’ve got to slow down and unwind ourselves.. like Baloo in the Jungle Book suggests… Happy Sunday to all.
Your life lessons teach us all.
Adust, take a step back.
Look around.
Be surprised with goodness.
Teach on, preach on…..Roy
So many true words in your Sunday letter. Cheryl says “Be Here Now”! Those three words remove all the frustration with required or unexpected delay, and require a response to the moment we currently have available. Especially if we understand that we don’t really know how many of those moments we have available! Tying this in with MLK, my cousin’s daughter, Rector at St. Johns Episcopal Parish in Royal Oak, Michigan, preached last Sunday using the words of MLK – All Here Now. It gave me a beautiful connection between the personal (Be Here Now) and the corporate (All Here Now). Here’s the link to her sermon: https://youtu.be/mPXh428hONc .
Forever friend….
I just posted one FB’er said it was Cancer Survivor Day. Don’t know if true,,,,if, also true for caregivers.
Cheryl, for me, defines Hero Time. Whatever may be, you do so together.
Thanks for the MLK link….ears open.
I have 2 close friends on my worry list: one new, one old. one on walker with legs damaged, only there to shuffle. He and 40 yr + wife are soon flying to Australia….amazing, “never let the old guy in” courage,
The 2nd more long term depression/give up. He is disconnected, alone so long he doesn’t know or believe in another reality.
Aging hard. Having spouse at risk harder. Caring for you both…..Roy
I have the extraordinary gift of living with a pack of professional canines, two horses and a very smart, demanding cat. All whom fell in love with Roy and Beth when they stayed at Casa Linda.
Being present is the lesson they have taught me and remind me each and every day. One of the dogs, who became Roy’s couch buddy in the early AM is BIG, but sensitive. If you rush or loose your patience, he takes it super personally and expresses quite clearly his dismay.
May we extend to others what our four-legged and feather friends ask of us—Be patient, be present, reap the bounty of love and friendship.
those with 4 legs and large spirits teach and guide us all.
i wish i could toss in the wisdom of horses but not my background …. no doubt you could write a book of horse wisdom.
what i find comfort in is knowing you are with beth and I this worning.
we stumble and mumble together on the trail
we will send info on March 3 event before Monday am…….Roy