Roy’s Sunday Letter for June 29, 2025
READER SUGGTSIONS OF TOPICS AND AREAS OF INTEREST
Last week, I asked readers of the Sunday Letter to suggest topics and areas of interest. I received wonderful suggestions and challenges to include in this week’s Sunday Letter.
Jerry E. and Marcia would like to know what books, magazines, or podcasts you read or listened to in each stage of life. At what age did you begin reading, how did you interests change into teens, and the different ages of adulthood. Do you now learn through podcasts? My reading began in elementary school with the Hardy Boys series. I have yet to shift to podcasts, but I do regularly watch/listen to individuals and presentations on You Tube.
- Dave wants to raise our awareness of suicide by military veterans. I found out Mental Health sites report 17 to 24 veteran suicides daily. In addition, there are 20 daily self-injury deaths, with medication over-dosing a major cause. There is more to research to do. The pain and isolation of veterans resulting in a death by suicide is inexcusable. I do not have a family history that includes suicide. I have friends who know who do. Dave has pointed the way for all of us to learn and listen in deeper ways.
Roger asked about Love and Learning. My individual learning about love has evolved and changed since our first hello in 1977. I have learned ways I opened the flow of love, as well as the ways I did not. As I learn more about getting out of the way of love, the acts and expressions of loving have become easier, more natural, and hopefully meaningful. I hope your experiences of getting it wrong, getting it right, have been easier than mine about learning and loving.
Ron wanted to know more about what I have found Constant in life. Two Constants came to me. 1) The harm and destruction from power and the powerful can be held back for a time, but always nearby, eager to return. Resisting, pushing back is a constant forever. 2) The magic of Kindness has the power to create and give courage to others. With each act of lifting up and being present in the hard times strengthens both the receiver and the giver. The giving and practice of Kindness is forever.
Jerry R, Mike, and Jan wanted me to write about the Last Stage of Life. Erik Erikson titled his last and 8th life stage Integrity & Despair. Reflection on whether my life has been good, useful to others, fulfilling? Have I supported causes and responded to the needs of others? Or, with age have I become isolated, empty of purpose. After his death his wife expanded on the 8 Stages with her own writing of a 9th Life Stage (late 80’s and 90’s). With physical and mental decline reflection on the ways an individual’s life was lived may be helpful, even comforting.
Beth and I know each decision and challenge we face in this our last stage are critical and each come with consequences. We talk often, walk carefully, intentionally be with friends and value the contributions of today’s digital world in our 2025 life with Jazz and each other.
Each one of the reader suggested topics could be its own Sunday Letter. Your Comments will guide me to do more, do better in the Sunday’s to come…….Roy
I have known you and Beth for a very, very long time. Granted, in the early years I spent more time with Beth, teaching together and spending time together. I have seen a marked change in your. Level of loving and learning. I am certain when we were all working, we had less time to listen and respond. I find you much more patient and reflective now. As we age we realize what is really important and work is not one of them; kindness, sharing, caring are much more important to all of us Seniors.
I am fortunate you both have carried with you both over the yrs, and no2 into 2025.
We learn from each other
We invite each other into our story
& there is more for we 3 in the days before us even now….
Healthy conversations about any of these topics would be welcome. Peace to you and Beth. Hugs, Frank Long
& hugs across DFW to you both.
You encourage to make a drive not often made these days.
Heart words best heard near to the other.
Appreciation for your encouraging words….
Roy you always give me “food for thought”. All these topics are great ways to expand our minds. Final stage of life is definitely one to explore. We will all get there. Thank you for your friendship. I am
Blessed to have you and Beth in my life.
and we return the blessing for you and Charles, and the Colorado 3some too.
for me, we all are fortunate to have wonderful and challenging suggestions from readers of the SL.
We have FW breakfast place for one of our next gatherings.
Peaceful hearts to you both….
Wonderful thoughts and topics Roy.
I came across this quote.. from Ellen Sturgis Hooper, “The Dial”, 1840.:
I slept and dreamed life was joy.
I woke and found life was service.
I acted and behold, Service is joy.
i have found service to others is my calling and my joy for certain..
Time to cold plunge, then church, then mow some grass for Mr. Rudolph.. will be a great day and has started with the Sunday letter!! wonderful day to all.
Mike…a stong and clear Yes to Service to others.
You present a different life answer than headline news today.
Mr. Rudolph is bur one of many who benefit from your reach out and caring.
You continue in service and I will humbly continue to write……
Thanks for kind words. And u have a deal. Writing and service
partner going down the trail…..
I thought this poem by Wendell Berry sums it up pretty amazingly. https://grateful.org/resource/our-real-work-poem-wendell-berry/
Love you so much. Your thoughtful and insightful musings fill my Sunday mornings and my life ahead. X/O to you and Beth.
We have several friends who are fearful of their needed journey. Never easy, especially when alone on the trail.
Been reading when he was indeed a new farmer. Insight. Wisdom. Experienced.
Tx becoming more and more unhealthy for thinking persons.
So, our journey is not complete as well…
Great thoughts from you, and from all others. My word of the week is “resignation”. That’s where I am in life’s “stages” and I’m beginning to look at it as a positive. Sounds like it could come from one who has given up, but not at all in my case. Just a fact that one must deal with after the loss of a spouse, or anything of meaning in one’s life. It could be like acceptance, but for me, I accepted the situation a long time ago.
Keep up the good work and keep us thinking! I can’t “resign” from my head!
A book Beth and I used often at Hope & Healing is titled Grandfather’s Blessings. A heavily greeting spouse was seeing her MD for similar issues of acceptance.
The MD asked if this is the way William would want her to live, stuck, ongoing sadness. She at once responded no, William would want me to (& describes a fuller, more joyful life). And she did so in the months to come, slowly but with confidence in future days.
In the film The Intern, a retired executive speaks of the emptiness since his wife’s death 3 yrs. earlier. He says, “I am go, meet fiends, travel, but when I come home the home is still empty.”
The missing, the loss through death of parent, child, or spouse.is a grief journe no one asked for or wants.
And yet, every such journey unique, important.
We 3 will keep connecting, sharing, listening, or just wanting to more of your travel or Bridge game.
Roy, you are skilled in keeping our conversations meaningful. Thank You. We knew this part of our life was coming and we know it is now here. But living this part of life can certainly be a challenge in finding and managing a meaningful path. Through a loving community of kindness, caring, love, and compassion we can continue to minister to one another.
We join you in being brave and looking into the mirror of our lives, each fully and well lived…& we continue on!
To me the ability to keep Learning is the fuel for life. Love is the eternal purpose. Roy did a beautiful job of pairing them and certainly learning to love and be loved is essential to a fulfilled and fulfilling life.
Your encouragement is my motivation,,,,so thank you.
Beth and I since 1977 have written and rewritten many a chillapter……..and sr=till pages to fill.
Hi Roy, I found the reference to Erickson, Integrity vs Despair very insightful. I reviewed his theory and found it very meaningful to my own life. During a mischievous period in my health I did sort of mini life review, and it gave me such peace. I must have studied this in college, but didn’t remember it. Thank you for bringing up this vital approach to aging! Debbie
Sometimes I stumble over something positive and good,
If helpful, I will keep at it….and thank you for encouragement to stumble onward…..