As I think of my long life, I am thinking about the main chapters and the focus of each chapter.
Early childhood: Great joy, happiness, curiosity, family, play.
Childhood: School, adventures, home, family, church, learning, exploring, dreaming, drawing.
Early teens: School, gymnastics, family, friends, struggle, chaos, creativity
High School Teens: Work, school, family, friends, church, obedience, tired, confusion, struggle, search, shopping, social events, family vacations
College Teen/Early Adult: Friends, college studies, open-mindedness, new learning, revelation, service, exploration, family, work.
First Professional Job: Frustration, searching, confusion, family, friends
Second Professional Job: Apartment living, creativity, new friends, city life, exploration, searching, adventures, relationships
Graduate School: Great learning, lots of jobs, good friends, exploration, adventures, fun, serious relationship.
Third Professional Job-Teaching: Start of 34-year career as an educator, engaged, great adventures, positive challenge at work, some good colleagues, will to change education landscape, ups and downs of professional life, family, friends.
Marriage: Big celebration, lots of friends/fun, good work as a teacher, building new routines, home.
Baby One: Great joy, learning how to parent, new home, more teaching, focus on family, fun with friends,
Baby Two: More joy, Lots of work, challenging home/work balance, some exhaustion, some great family adventures, highly motivated to do my best by family, school, home.
Baby Three: Great joy, busy, busy family life, lots of family adventures, lots and lots of school work.
Professional and Family Focus: 24-7 focus on school and family--busy, busy, busy!!!! Engaging in sons' pursuits, passions, adventures, study in ways that support them and allow us to explore, learn and adventure too.
COVID: Find the light, make the best of things, decision to retire for family/health reasons--remaking the schedule, commitments, efforts.
Parenting adult children and caring for elderly parents: Supporting their quests, celebrations, interests and new freedom to contribute, explore and adventure with my husband and friends. In some ways, this chapter is much like our dating/early married years--time to enjoy life, and the freedom to be more flexible. Time to give back to my parents who gave so much to me over time.
So far, it's been a good life. Not a life without challenges, but a life always directed towards doing what I can for self and others, and living the best possible life, a life that's responsible, joyful, generous, caring and filled with natural beauty and good relationships. Onward.