Life & Death, Sweetness In Life

The Seasons of Life

Daiseys in a glass and daiseys have dried out and their petals fallen onto a wooden table.

The Speed of Life

Life sure does go by quickly doesn’t it? I was reminded of this when I went to my cottage this weekend. We had not been there since early summer and when I walked into my dining room there, I saw this……

It reminded me of how fleeting life is and how even the seasons seem to pass into the next in the blink of an eye. When I saw these fallen flowers, I thought of spring/summer and it is now fall.

I like to be reminded of how fast life speeds by because it jolts me into appreciating life and every sacred moment in it.

Another thing that happened this week that really, really, jolted me was that I ran into someone that I grew up with and had not seen in probably 30 years or more. I only recognized him because of his voice, as I heard him speaking in a cheerful manner to the lady at the deli counter.

We chatted and it was so lovely to connect with him after all these years. He had shared with me that he has been dealing with cancer for 10 years and he has much outlived his prognosis date of how long he should be living for, and that he was very grateful for that.

He had recently lost his brother and I took a moment to offer my condolences around that and acknowledged how much his family has been through in recent years.

He then mentioned to me that he went and spent a few days with my own brother in our home town and how much that meant to him. I cry just recalling the JOY in his voice as he expressed his delight around their visit, especially it being where we grew up.

After once again bumping into him in the checkout line, I realized that he was catching the bus so I offered him a ride. He graciously accepted and our ride was full of heartfelt chatter. He was very excited about a garden that he maintained and it reminded me of the simple pleasures and JOYS of life.

The Jolting Moment…

Shortly before we reached his home, I said to him that it was so nice that he and my brother got to catch up. And then he said to me this… the jolt I talked about: “It was more of a saying good-bye…..”

So once again, I am sitting here with tears streaming down my face. I wondered if that was my good-bye to him as well. I hope not. I hope I get to see him again and I am grateful for the visit we had. It will forever change my life as some of these moments do.

And I have a confession..… when I heard his voice in the grocery story, I almost didn’t call out because you know I was busy and in a hurry and on a schedule. You know how it is. But I did and I am glad and I am grateful for the beautiful gifts and reminders about the sweetness of life that emerged from this whole experience.

So yes my friends, life goes by quickly. EnJOY the moments, make time for the simple things, and connect with the people in your life that matter…. The seasons of life go by quickly.

With Much Love to All,

Maggie

hope, Sweetness In Life

Bittersweet & Finding Sweetness at This Time in History…..

โ€œI searched among her crayons for a color that represented autumn and pulled out an orange-toned crayon, never used. It read โ€œBittersweet,โ€ and I wondered why that particular name. Autumn was my favorite time of yearโ€ฆ I was always ready for the change. I guess some people didnโ€™t see it that way. Some people wanted to cling to summer… I loved both seasons, but I thought no one would ever call spring bittersweet, even though it was just another change, another new cycle, an end to one season and a beginning for another in an endless, never-ending spiral.โ€
โ€• Janet Rebhan,  

I ran across this quote today that reminded me of what we are going through in the world right now. It truly is Bittersweet. I know a lot of people are in fear right now but there is so much goodness happening too!

We are getting clearer on who we are and what is important. We are stepping up to the plate of humanity and serving others. We are learning to look through the eyes of Love for the entire world. We are all collectively thinking of new horizons that we will be so grateful for.

Just as the changes of the seasons throughout the year and the seasons of our life can be bittersweet, so is this time we are in.

I encourage you to look for the Sweet. As I typed this my daughter popped in to say hi to me and I looked at her sweet face and I knew what it all meant.

Sweet Sivanna Rose

Look for the sweetness. It is always there if you look.

I also this today in a Facebook Post that my friend Meredith Ann Deasley shared. Meredith is a Certified Life Coach, Registered Holistic Nutritionist and Spiritual Vitality Expert!

This is what I saw and it Inspired me!

She shared her notes for the day and this is a snippet from them. I love it!

It says in regard to how she sees herself:

“The way I taught myself to turn every negative into a positive from a young age. (and people think I’m naive! hee hee) Meredith Ann Deasley

Well I have to say I loved that. I am seeing so much positive in all that is happening and I continue to do so. Of course I have compassion and empathy for others and I understand some people’s anxiety is running high, but I do think we can choose to see Goodness and Sweetness and I hope that you look for and enJOY the Sweetness too. It is even sweeter at times like this because we appreciate it more. ๐Ÿ™‚

Pretty picture with a link to sign up for Maggie’s FREE ebook for having more JOY in your life and work. #JOY