ANNIVERSARIES CONJURES UP MANY REFLECTIONS

Anniversaries conjure up many  memories of a life together. It is like a wall full of platitudes and images. Created together it gives a history of the time spent as a couple, a family and as separate individuals. Sometimes it is hard to believe where the time has gone. So many moments together. From youth to middle age and now hitting those senior years with old age lurking, a major time for reflection. Seeing your babies having babies! Losing loved ones! Pondering when to retire! Starting to downsize and wondering what to keep and what to sell or give away! Looking at the man I married and seeing the teenager, the 20 something, the middle aged man! And now the senior! At least he comes with a senior's discount!

FALL IS A MIDDLE AGE REFLECTION

The Fall can metaphorically refer to the Fall of our lives- that stage between youth and old age. Middle age. I often wonder when middle age really ends and old age begins. I have met 85 year olds that think they are middle aged because people in their families live to 105! Does middle age start at 40 as I thought when I turned 40! Fall has many symbols- the harvest home! The results of the hard work over the Spring and Summer bring the Fall's bounty! The trees are beautiful before losing their leaves! It is a time to take in the wonders of nature. Of course the coniferous trees stay green to add a colourful backdrop. A tree is very symbolic. It reaches to the sky as well as establishing roots. The part seen is a small part of the overall presence. People have roots too- family, work, investments, interests, hobbies! So Fall with its squash and apples and time for celebration with a Canadian Thanksgiving is a time for reflection! A time for memories! So are you in the Fall of your life? Is it a positive time for you? Are you remembering other Falls and what they brought to you? Or are you just dreading that after Fall comes Winter? Being in our 40s, 50s and 60s can still bring new adventures and life!

#middleage#thefalloflife#thinkingaboutlife#fallbeforewinter#harvesthome#beinghappytocelebratefall#reflectivethoughtsbybarbara#barbaradimambro

11/11/11

It would be a fun day to have a special event like the birth of a baby. Why are we fascinated with numbers? We have superstitious one- like the number 13! Others cultures have their own lucky numbers! Things come in 3's! Our birthday numbers! Nicer to be 39 than 40! Little children will say I'm 4 and ahalf! Do you like the day with the special- 11/11/11? Are you planning anything special? Do you have a special number? Do you avoid a number? Math plays with numbers and equations all the time. Do you like math? It's my 13th blog for November- I see it as a positive sign!

THE BLUE JEANS CAN BE BAGGY

We know we are getting older when comfort is preferred over appearance. My blue jeans are stretch fabric so I can breath when I move. There was a time that looking slimmer than slim was the motto of the day. When the middle age rolls rolled in, it was more attractive to wear jeans slightly bigger but good quality to reflect my figure. Comfortable walking shoes are a must too. The good heels and leather boots are for short encounters and distances. When does it happen - not caring about trying to draw attention to ourselves through being the best dressed in the room? For women, it can be an age thing as men are always drawn to looking at younger women. You can be an unattractive 25 year old and an attractive 50 year old but the eyes are always on the youth. So comfortable jeans are the day! No one is noticing anyway! What kind of jeans do you wear? Are your jeans baggy? Should we dress to get attention? Should we dress for ourselves? Should we even be asking the Question???

THE FALL OF OUR LIVES

When we reflect on the seasons it often can coincide with the stages of our lives. Fall always brings images of middle age. Remorse summer is over and the uncertainity of what type of Fall. Will it be an Indian Summer with warm days mingled around the cool nights? Will the harvest be bountiful? The trees in their changing colours- will they be beautiful? We say goodbye to many birds and butterflies as they head south but prepare to help feed the ones that remain year round. Fall can bring the rewards of all the seasons. As our relationships change with people in our lives- children have moved out and started families, friends downsize and perhaps relocate, some important members pass away- we tend to value our loved ones more. It can be a time to decide what do I really want to do with the rest of my life. An urgency to complete some projects and a desire to start some new ones. A time to reconnect with people in our lives. Visit old haunts. A time to decide life is really worth living and live it. How do you feel about Fall? Does it bring different images to you? Are you younger but look at the folks in your life hoping they are enjoying their accomplishments? Are you in the Fall of your life?