Good words of wisdom from your guests Pat. I find that 22 years after my worst "Bump In The Road," and a few more since, which I spoke about on your show last year, I am grateful just to be alive, have enough to eat and have the basics for a comfortable life.
On a practical level, here's how I manage to stay present most of the time:
I walk 5km (3.2 miles) on a quiet country road 5 mornings a week - before dawn most of the year. It is my time for prayer and contemplation.
I heat my old farmhouse with wood, so I spend most Saturdays from Spring to Fall pulling trees out of the bush with my tractor, cutting, splitting and stacking wood.
Living in a 120-year-old farmhouse with a barn and 2 acres of garden keeps me busy with chores when I am not cutting wood.
My mobile phone is just that, I don't use it for emails, social media or accessing the internet. Those activities are reserved for office hours and on a computer.
I also find that life becomes less frantic in our later years.
All great suggestions. I rather envy your routine.
Limiting on-line times is step one, one I've instituted to some degree. I need to limit it more. And limit the caffeine.
Nature is definitely the next step. Having moved to a new locale 6 months ago, I've been juggling getting settled, expanding Bump and exploring my interests in photography, aviation and kayaking. And a bit of food and wine too!
Now I need to find "my place". A place that resonates with me and is easily accessible. I do walk (or now that the weather is getting nice, play pickle ball.) I've put together a 4.5 mile loop in my neighborhood that takes me past pastures, winding roads and old barns. But I haven't found "my place" yet.
In Tahoe, it was a beach accessible only on foot or by water. Or a rock in the middle of the stream that ran through the meadow near Mt Rose.
In Santa Fe, it was a cross country ski trail. Actually, all of Santa Fe touched my soul.
Eagle, ID is much busier, with much to do. I think I am a bit distracted by it all. And the discomfort of that, for me, is that I've spent decades quite alone (and quite happy there!) and all of a sudden there are all these social opportunities. I am selective, but the photography club opportunities alone are amazing. I want it all!
With age, I agree, things settle down. And this will too. I look at this period as one of opportunity, to tune my focus and energy to where I most want to go. Being back with my camera is an important outlet for me. This weekend: a photographic quest for wild horses!
Now I just have to recalibrate things, and finding that beautiful, profound place of endless peace is high on my list. It is always within me. I just need to slow down a bit to really "be there". Meditating twice a day is good; exercising is excellent; finding "my place" is what I really need.
Thank you for your wisdom. All my guests offer me hints for my own life. Yesterday I recorded a conversation and one of the takeaways was define your goals and go for it! I'm working on it!
In time it will all come together...Be well, my friend.
Good words of wisdom from your guests Pat. I find that 22 years after my worst "Bump In The Road," and a few more since, which I spoke about on your show last year, I am grateful just to be alive, have enough to eat and have the basics for a comfortable life.
On a practical level, here's how I manage to stay present most of the time:
I walk 5km (3.2 miles) on a quiet country road 5 mornings a week - before dawn most of the year. It is my time for prayer and contemplation.
I heat my old farmhouse with wood, so I spend most Saturdays from Spring to Fall pulling trees out of the bush with my tractor, cutting, splitting and stacking wood.
Living in a 120-year-old farmhouse with a barn and 2 acres of garden keeps me busy with chores when I am not cutting wood.
My mobile phone is just that, I don't use it for emails, social media or accessing the internet. Those activities are reserved for office hours and on a computer.
I also find that life becomes less frantic in our later years.
Peter,
All great suggestions. I rather envy your routine.
Limiting on-line times is step one, one I've instituted to some degree. I need to limit it more. And limit the caffeine.
Nature is definitely the next step. Having moved to a new locale 6 months ago, I've been juggling getting settled, expanding Bump and exploring my interests in photography, aviation and kayaking. And a bit of food and wine too!
Now I need to find "my place". A place that resonates with me and is easily accessible. I do walk (or now that the weather is getting nice, play pickle ball.) I've put together a 4.5 mile loop in my neighborhood that takes me past pastures, winding roads and old barns. But I haven't found "my place" yet.
In Tahoe, it was a beach accessible only on foot or by water. Or a rock in the middle of the stream that ran through the meadow near Mt Rose.
In Santa Fe, it was a cross country ski trail. Actually, all of Santa Fe touched my soul.
Eagle, ID is much busier, with much to do. I think I am a bit distracted by it all. And the discomfort of that, for me, is that I've spent decades quite alone (and quite happy there!) and all of a sudden there are all these social opportunities. I am selective, but the photography club opportunities alone are amazing. I want it all!
With age, I agree, things settle down. And this will too. I look at this period as one of opportunity, to tune my focus and energy to where I most want to go. Being back with my camera is an important outlet for me. This weekend: a photographic quest for wild horses!
Now I just have to recalibrate things, and finding that beautiful, profound place of endless peace is high on my list. It is always within me. I just need to slow down a bit to really "be there". Meditating twice a day is good; exercising is excellent; finding "my place" is what I really need.
Thank you for your wisdom. All my guests offer me hints for my own life. Yesterday I recorded a conversation and one of the takeaways was define your goals and go for it! I'm working on it!
In time it will all come together...Be well, my friend.