I wander my wilderness with faith and suddenly it blossoms as the rose.
Florence Scovel Shinn
My mother lived to the ripe old age of 91, but maintained to her death that a woman should never reveal her age. I always thought it odd that one should not honor the years they’ve been on the planet and the wisdom gained from their journey. So in the name of breaking free from my conditioning, today, I celebrate my 68th birthday and 68 years of lessons learned thus far.
As a child, I used to think people this age were really old, and back then, they were. Sixty-eight years ago, the average life expectancy was only about 68. Today, the average life expectancy is just shy of 78. Looked at from this vantage point, I can expect to live 10 more years at least, perhaps even longer given my family longevity genes.
On the other hand, I all I really know is that I have this moment in which to be fully alive. So let me take this moment to express my deep gratitude to the miracle that is Life, and my life lived within this larger context. In these difficult times, it’s easy to get caught up in what’s not right with the world. It’s easy to see one’s life as a piece of “wilderness” stretching into infinity. And in a way, this analogy fits pretty well for me.
My life is a kind of wilderness, but I imagine it to be a wilderness of wonder, a wilderness of beauty, a wilderness of miracles and rich possibility instead of a barren desert.
If I only have this day in which to complete my life, let me be the rose that blossoms in its fullness. Let me share the fragrance of gratitude for this one, rich, wonderful life I call mine.
And so it is!
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