"Its been a god life, all in all,....", (reflections on your life)

grahamg

grahamg

Old codger
Location
South of Manchester, UK
A thread inspired by the great John Denver once again where he chose to look at his own life according to the lyrics, (made all the more poignant by the fact he died so young).

Can we be as positive (and yet nuanced) about our own lives?

Poems, Prayers and Promises
Song by John Denver


… I've been lately thinking about my life's time
All the things I've done, how it's been
And I can't help believing in my own mind
I know I'm gonna hate to see it end

… I've seen a lot of sunshine, slept out in the rain
Spent a night or two all on my own
I've known my lady's pleasures, had myself some friends
And spent a night or two in my own home

… I have to say it now, it's been a good life, all in all
It's really fine to have a chance to hang around
And lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire
While all my friends and my old lady sit and pass the pipe around

… Talk of poems and prayers and promises and things that we believe in
How sweet it is to love someone, how right it is to care
How long it's been since yesterday and what about tomorrow?
What about our dreams and all the memories we share?

… The days they pass so quickly now, nights are seldom long
Time around me whispers when it's cold
The changes somehow frighten me, still I have to smile
It turns me on to think of growing old

… For though my life's been good to me there's still so much to do
So many things my mind's never known
I'd like to raise a family, I'd like to sail away
And dance across the mountains on the moon, yes I would

… I have to say it now, it's been a good life, all in all
It's really fine to have the chance to hang around
And lie there by the fire and watch the evening tire
While all my friends and my old lady, sit and watch the sun go down

… Talk of poems and prayers and promises and things that we believe in
How sweet it is to love someone, how right it is to care
How long it's been since yesterday and what about tomorrow?
What about our dreams and all the memories we share?

 

I am convinced that I am living in the best of times in human history. Having lived earlier, I wouldn't have been able to have the dozen flawless surgeries that made life worth living; and for my grandchildren's times, I see only disasters ahead. I have everything I need: a healthy family, a small house, a Corolla car, great pets, etc. At 87, I do have some age related booboos, but as long I am living basically pain free, I am thanking God every day for my wonderful life. Today is the first day of the rest of my life, and I enjoy every day of it. I am grateful.
 
Last edited:
Oh, I'd admit, I've led a very selfish life. If like a robot chicken sketch (Book of how much joy I brought others) it'd be a phamplet, one side blank.

(Deleted much whining, excuses) it just sucks I didn't understand why I did things 45 years ago, that I see why now. I can't go back and change it.
 
Life is full of "up's and down's". The Life would be boring without challenges - ie "down's". I always feel stronger and more confident after coming through the "down's". (ie diabetes @ 19, divorced, single mom to 3 teens, married again and widowed)

Now I am confident that I will manage alone (@ 78 years) and prefer to be alone (with Flash, the dog). 2 of the 3 children live in another continent - I do miss my sons and feel bad that my daughter has to "weather the storm" of Mom's aging issues.
 

reflections on your life​


Sends me to something I wrote in the early days living at our mountain cabin

A moment of reflection;

I've been struggling of late in being able to put my finger on how I feel these times.

We've been out here 50 days.

We've accomplished more than I thought we would by now.

My wife amazes me...daily.

I even amaze myself.

There's been a flow of activity as we both have our daily chores and our projects, some done alone, some together, but both of us resting (plopping into our camp chairs) together.

We talk of us never being so happy, so fulfilled, so purposeful.


Sure, like most, we both carry the scars of living, similar to the gnarled tree in this photo I took a few days ago;

old tree.jpg

But like this tree, there's a renewal.

It's so very hard to continue to come up with a regeneration when living in the hectic stream of town.
One thinks a good rest will do it, but I'll tell you now, I've kidded myself.

I've just maintained my sanity, and even that is questionable.

This place

This place.....has given me a greater perspective of my wellbeing than I could ever muster within a dense society.

I'm not an outwardly religious guy, but there's a new earth......I'd like to think it's like our little place...
Not some ethereal cloudy place, but a hands on, git dirty abode, a tangibly real place where you can see, feel, taste, smell the beauty of nature.....of God.

Yet, I have this niggling, this feeling of angst (?) that somehow, some way this prize will be taken from me.

A feeling that 'why do I get this?'...I certainly don't deserve it any more than the next bloke.

Surely God is giving me (us) a glimpse of what things could be like... should be like...


Maybe tomorrow I'll fall on a jagged tree spike and lie there bleeding my guts out while my woman is gleefully tending her garden.

Maybe today.

But

Right now

This moment

I have

Contentment

Like I've never known

Or even dreamt of

And it can never be taken from me



That was written eight years ago

It's still with me
 
Gary O' said:

reflections on your life Sends me to something I wrote in the early days living at our mountain cabin​

A moment of reflection;
I've been struggling of late in being able to put my finger on how I feel these times.
We've been out here 50 days.
We've accomplished more than I thought we would by now.
My wife amazes me...daily.
I even amaze myself.

There's been a flow of activity as we both have our daily chores and our projects, some done alone, some together, but both of us resting (plopping into our camp chairs) together.

We talk of us never being so happy, so fulfilled, so purposeful.


Sure, like most, we both carry the scars of living, similar to the gnarled tree in this photo I took a few days ago;

View attachment 277687

But like this tree, there's a renewal.

It's so very hard to continue to come up with a regeneration when living in the hectic stream of town.
One thinks a good rest will do it, but I'll tell you now, I've kidded myself.

I've just maintained my sanity, and even that is questionable.

This place

This place.....has given me a greater perspective of my wellbeing than I could ever muster within a dense society.

I'm not an outwardly religious guy, but there's a new earth......I'd like to think it's like our little place...
Not some ethereal cloudy place, but a hands on, git dirty abode, a tangibly real place where you can see, feel, taste, smell the beauty of nature.....of God.

Yet, I have this niggling, this feeling of angst (?) that somehow, some way this prize will be taken from me.

A feeling that 'why do I get this?'...I certainly don't deserve it any more than the next bloke.

Surely God is giving me (us) a glimpse of what things could be like... should be like...


Maybe tomorrow I'll fall on a jagged tree spike and lie there bleeding my guts out while my woman is gleefully tending her garden.

Maybe today.

But

Right now

This moment

I have

Contentment

Like I've never known

Or even dreamt of

And it can never be taken from me



That was written eight years ago

It's still with me
Click to expand...
Best response to the thread so far "by a country mile"!
(never expected anything less :) )
 
Repondering said:
My life hasn't been that good I don't think........I let a lot of opportunities go unexplored.
But my health is good so far and I might have 10 or 15 years left if I keep on actively staying fit.
So my plan is to do a better job of it in these twilight years.
Click to expand...
We're all told to make plans aren't we, so keep it up, (both the planning and whatever the plan might be), and I'll try to do the same. :)
 
Last edited:
To you, it may seem that I'm constantly repeating myself and complaining. However, you're missing the point...

I keep stating the same as I'm trying to find answers to what was my situation then.

When one is faced with questionable situations but a satisfactory response doesn't come, then one repeats the same to whomever as hoping that one day we'll get the answers and therefore, all will be right as rain.

Granted, it's frustrating for you but also extremely so to myself as I know that somewhere lies a situation similar that probably contains people who are going through the same and knows how to handle it.

These answers would be invaluable in stopping the guilt that one's feel on a daily basis due to what happened before...
 
Well... life has been one big education, and many of the lessons have been really tough to learn. I came into the world naive, emotionally damaged, and idealistic. Now I'm more reflective and thoughtful. At least I try to be.

There is at least one thing I'd like to do before I shuffle off to the hole in the ground, and perhaps I'll achieve it, or not. I don't think I've found my place in the world yet, perhaps I never will.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top