| In August, here in the mountains of
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| | meet regularly to discuss creative
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| southwest Virginia, the trees acquire a
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| | writing.It doesn't matter what you do --
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| dull sheen that signals the end of
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| | just that you Do Something! Not doing
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| summer. Heralded by the Dog Days of
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| | anything at all is also a choice.
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| summer, it's a melancholy, bittersweet
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| | There's an old saying: "Do what you've
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| season. Daytime temperatures may soar,
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| | always done, and you'll get what
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| the humidity is sweltering, but nights
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| | you've always gotten." The important
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| are cool. In the mornings, a fog rises
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| | thing is, you're never too old to learn
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| from the mountains, reminiscent of a
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| | new things, or to do something
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| Japanese painting. And each day is
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| | interesting just for you.Getting older
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| shorter.Stars on a late summer night are
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| | doesn't mean you have to stop living. If
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| like diamonds in a velvet sky. This
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| | anything, with time on their hands thanks
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| year, August 12 falls on a Friday, and
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| | to retirement, many seniors say they've
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| after midnight, you might be able to see
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| | really started living, at last, and are
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| a spectacular display of the Perseid
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| | having the "time of their life." Being
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| meteor showers at their peak.Slice open a
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| | active, involved, and interested in life
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| bell pepper from the garden, and you're
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| | keeps you young, no matter what your
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| likely to find tiny pale-green peppers
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| | chronological age. Let go of your youth,
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| growing within. It's as if Nature
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| | and enjoy celebrating your next birthday
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| hurries to replicate herself while
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| | as a major Life Milestone. You've earned
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| there's still time.Like squirrels that
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| | it!For a timeless lesson in life that has
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| store up their winter food supply, we may
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| | survived for over 3 centuries, supposedly
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| busy ourselves cleaning up, clearing out,
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| | found in Old Saint Paul's Church in
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| readying our homes for colder weather.
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| | Baltimore and dated 1692, remember
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| Or we may spend long moments weeding a
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| | "Desiderata" by an anonymous writer.
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| flowerbed, allowing our thoughts to drift
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| | This should be read with the heart:"Go
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| to unknown places. We wonder where
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| | placidly amid the noise and haste, and
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| summer went -- how could it pass by so
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| | remember what peace there may be in
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| quickly?
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| | silence. As far as possible without
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| It's almost as if we didn't
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| | surrender, be on good terms with all
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| notice.Nature gives us little choice but
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| | persons. Speak your truth quietly and
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| to let go of one season and get on with
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| | clearly; and listen to others, even the
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| another. As I soak up the last rays of
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| | dull and ignorant; they too have their
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| summer sun, I recognize all over again
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| | story."Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
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| that the seasons are a metaphor for Life.
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| | they are vexations to the spirit. If you
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| We, too, must "let go" before we can
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| | compare yourself with others, you may
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| move ahead.Letting go is an interesting
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| | become vain and bitter; for always there
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| concept. It's a technique used not only
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| | will be greater and lesser persons than
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| in skillful fly-fishing, but in life. We
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| | yourself. Enjoy your achievements as
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| let go of fear, of the past, of
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| | well as your plans."Keep interested in
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| possessions, of a lost love. We let go
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| | your career, however humble; it is a real
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| of anger or a problem relationship. We
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| | possession in the changing fortunes of
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| let go of our children as they mature
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| | time. Exercise caution in your business
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| into their own lives, and when someone we
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| | affairs; for the world is full of
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| love dies, eventually we let go of grief.
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| | trickery. But let this not blind you to
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| In Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon,
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| | what virtue there is; many persons strive
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| there's an expression: "Let go, and let
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| | for high ideals; and everywhere life is
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| God." And in the end, we must let go of
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| | full of heroism."Be yourself.
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| life itself.More people in their 50's,
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| | Especially, do not feign affection.
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| 60's, and older are on meds known as
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| | Neither be cynical about love; for in the
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| anti-depressants than you might imagine.
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| | face of all aridity and disenchantment it
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| I attribute a lot of middle-age
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| | is perennial as the grass."Take kindly
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| depression to the feeling that so many
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| | the counsel of the years, gracefully
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| seem to have, and have expressed to me,
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| | surrendering the things of youth.
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| that they look back on their lives and
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| | Nurture strength of spirit to shield you
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| ask, "Is that all there is?" This seems
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| | in sudden misfortune. But do not
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| to ride in tandem with, "But there was so
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| | distress yourself with imaginings. Many
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| much more I wanted to do!"Begin today.
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| | fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
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| Rekindle a few old, perhaps ancient
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| | Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle
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| dreams. You always wanted to play the
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| | with yourself."You are a child of the
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| piano? Sign up for lessons. If you lost
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| | universe, no less than the trees and the
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| ten pounds, you think you'd feel more in
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| | stars; you have a right to be here. And
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| shape? Buy a brightly colored sweat suit
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| | whether or not it is clear to you, no
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| and take low-impact aerobics. Attend a
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| | doubt the universe is unfolding as it
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| Weight Watchers group and count your food
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| | should."Therefore be at peace with God,
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| "points." Enroll in a tole painting
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| | whatever you conceive Him to be, and
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| class. Find a continuing education class
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| | whatever your labors and aspirations, in
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| at the local high school or community
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| | the noisy confusion of life keep peace
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| college about Using the Internet, or
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| | with your soul."With all its sham,
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| making pottery, or learning to quilt.
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| | drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a
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| Check with your public library and learn
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| | beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to
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| how to join a group of local writers who
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| | be happy.
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