Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 22, 2025
INDIVIDUAL AND DAILY LIFE LIMITATIONS
Limitations come to us all…they can be physical, emotional, mental, financial, spiritual, as well as phones and digital technology.
Limitations can be challenges to overcome, each brings learning, broadening and changing who we are. Perhaps the most meaningful learning comes when we accept and invite life limitations to live alongside all the other parts of who we are in some sense of balance.
What would be one or more limiting challenges you have experienced? At what life stage of life did you have these challenges? What person/s or organizations helped you adjust and supported you at this time in your individual or family life?
In my teen and young adult years, I faced the limitation of a significant stutter in my speech. The limitation of speech was felt socially, even answering questions in class or much less having to read and a poor, withdrawing self-image. At this critical life stage in college, I was graced by professional skills and peer encouragement. I wrote about this limitation and the turning point in my story “The Man Who Talked to Waves.”
“Somebody Feed Phil” is a Netflix series about food and travel. In filming in Amsterdam, Phil ate at Brownies and Downies, a local restaurant with staff cooks and servers with Down Syndrome. Phil gave us the gift of experiencing active and full living with limitations in the most human of ways.
One day, I went easily up and down staircases. Today, I am working to improve my senior leg strength and sense of balance. As an adaptation, I seek the elevator or alternative path. These are humbling words of admission of living with and alongside a physical and emotional limitation.
The digital world can be over-whelming for everyone, whatever age or life skills. Passwords, Usernames, and Security Codes determine our daily entry into social media and the use of our phones. Staying up with all the words and numbers a 2025 challenge.
New Topic: I am inviting and encouraging Sunday Letter readers to recommend topics and areas of writing that may be of interest to other readers. I have written about trees, pets, imagination, and today limitations. Thank you, in advance, for participating in the future of the Sunday Letter by adding your Comment in the section below or email to rbsantafe@gmail.com.
Roy, both limited and unlimited in 2025
Where do you find encouragement? We all find it in different places. In the 817 podcast, I heard Ann Zadeh say she knew a woman at the No Kings protest, who wanted her mom to experience the uplifting moment. Her mom has mobility issues, so the woman put her in the car and drove circles around Burnett Plaza so she could see throngs of folks speaking out against governmental overreach. There is strength and courage to be found, if we look.
A strong Yes for the encouragement of us all. I spoke with 2 older teens at FW’s No King rally. Neither had ever seen or been in the midst of a rally. Both were inspired by all age groups, signs, and the energy. This gathering of souls was encouraging, renewing, with kindness shown to all. Peaceful living a choice and we are encouraged by your presence and voice,
One of my greatest challenges was learning how to live without the love and support of my husband when he suddenly passed away. Our lives revolved around a mix of his children and mine. Socially our lives revolved around TCU events and Shrine activities. I had retired from teaching so we could travel and enjoy our golden years. All of that was gone in the blink of an eye and I had to go on without him. The friends we had as a couple were there for a brief time but they had different goals so I was left to make my own way. I was lucky enough to have friends that supported me in my efforts. I am not the same person I was, but through my volunteer work and the cementing of old friends I have moved on. The challenge now is aging alone, that’s a new challenge every day.
And you show courage in doing and being so. We know the missing is hard, never easy. I am glad we 3 have found each other, giving encouragement, humor, and leaning into each other for support. Appreciation for your weekly Comments. You make me,all of us better……
In the first quarter of 1965, as a senior in high school, I was summoned to the guidance counselors office to listen to her recommendation on my next step in life. I had never met the lady but in our 15 minute meeting she told me to forget college, attempt getting a skill of some sort and good luck in life. That was her guidance. For the next two years I did everything possible to prove her right. In ’67 I was drafted but enlisted in the navy ahead of the army. Not a good period in our nation to be in the military. But, with the mentoring of a navy chief and two commissioned officers I left the service 4 years later, enrolled at UTA, graduated in ’74 and fulfilled my guidance counselors parting words – and had a good working life. My limitation was I believed her and not in myself. I was an average student she didn’t see any potential in average and nor did I. It was only through several individuals who gave me opportunity to move beyond those perceived limitations did I actually grow and succeed in my endeavors. Words matter and words (positive) aligned with encouragement and responsibility can open a pathway that one may not have been available.
We turn right not left and life changes.
Even without encouragement you had/have an internal truth seeker thst has served you well.
And, a mentor father showing the way.
I am forever grateful we shared our moments
And the you make the right turn and the story book was rewritten in the best of ways, and continues to be.
More for you and I say and do, and we will.
You be good people!!
A few years ago while rushing through my home preparing for work, I fell and broke my left wrist. After surgery during my recovery, GOD revealed to me that hurrying, worrying and busyness are not in his plans for my life. Now I have this beautiful scar on my wrist to remind me to slow down, don’t worry about what tomorrow may bring and enjoy the peace I have at this present moment.
Preach on sister!!
A life lesson learned, not to be repeated.
Thank you for adding wisdom to this week’s Sunday Letter, as always.
I think life involves our continual search for our God Intended Self. We have successes and we have failures. We continue to find our way through life. We make our own decisions that can really make a difference considering what is right or wrong for us. I too had a counselor in high-school that did not “know” me and advised me of what to not do for my life’s occupation. I have met remarkable people in my life that have been real mentors in my life and I had enough sense to listen to them sometimes. I consider life to be a challenge. And adapting as we age can be a challenge for staying physically and mentally healthy and maintaining healthy relationships. Roy and Beth thank you for being in my world.
Friend Peter, you are so open and trusting with we readers. We learn from and with you…..and the same by so many others.
One of blessings of our return is our connecting with you. And we have more to do together.
Great letter for this Sunday! You touched a few nerves and comments by Maurine and Peter touched a few. Having lost my spouse in September has forced me to reevaluate my life, I have resigned myself to the fact that she isn’t coming back even as I do feel her presence with me. There definitely is a difference. The word “resign” can imply “giving up” but I am far from that. I am trying to build a life that I am content with and hopefully will eventually love. I have a great community and family which provides opportunities to get s involved in games, conversation and connections. And the opportunity to travel keeps me hopeful and excited about the future.
Thank you, Roy and Beth
An open humanity of loss, grief, and continuing as best for Frank.
Each loss an individual and family and also friends.
Living as best for that person.
Thank you, dear friend, for sharing, for teaching us all.
With you on all porches, all benches, all roads, all airports
Roy —
Would like to see you write on the last stage of life as identified by Erik Erikson (8th Stage as written by him). As you are aware, the successful resolution of this stage, rests firmly on the successful resolution of the first seven stages. As you also are probably aware, he came from a dire situation, a destitute unwed mother, never knowing his biological father and succeeding in becoming a world class child psychiatrist/
A clear Yes to last life stage
I will refresh my Erikson info and more.
This Sunday with and more. & thank you!!
Writing about….LOVE, LEARNING?
Roy, I am curious what path you took that reduced your stutter. But, I am also impressed that you chose to leave that part untold. It seems the point is not always overcoming our limitations as much as recognizing we may contribute within our limitations. That inspires me.
If you have book, read again THE MAN WHO TALKED TO WAVES.
If no book I will bring Friday morning….what time best for you Friday?
Car group probably there so perhaps in the cool of table out at R. Pope.