Many years ago, a dear friend gave me a beautiful plaque with William Shakespeare’s words: “With mirth & laughter let old wrinkles come.” At the time, wrinkles were not on my mind, so I did not fully understand the quote’s significance until now, as I reach a milestone birthday. Looking in the mirror, I see the reality of aging reflected in my face and body. Everywhere, there are messages urging us to resist or reverse this natural process. I admit that part of me still longs for the youthful face untouched by life’s trials and tribulations, but I am learning to make peace with what I see. As Goodreads puts it, “Those facial displays are the ultimate physical record of a life fully lived. Instead of seeing them as flaws, we can view them as a customized, living map of all the times you’ve smiled, giggled, and belly-laughed.” So, I choose to “Let Life In” and embrace my face as a reflection of the mirth and laughter woven throughout my life and living life to the fullest.
This month’s buzzword is:
Let Life In
In this busy and crazy world, many of us are trying to control what comes in and what goes out of our lives. At times, it feels that we are fielding many things, and when life seems to get out of control, what do we do but try to control it even more? Who are we kidding? Directing all aspects of our lives and that of others is not reality—we cannot, and we should not! When you find that you are at your wit’s end, it is time to call upon the buzzword “Let Life In.” It will give you that moment to step back, breathe, and redirect your thinking to release that habitual controlling tendency and let life unfold as it will. It will provide you with a new sense of freedom and wonder because sometimes life needs to happen in its own time and way.