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