Happy Tuesday,
How is everyone doing this fine Tuesday morning? I do hope you’re all doing well. How was your Easter? How many of you got to spend it with family and friends? I hope you all were able to make some amazing memories. Send me a text or message and let me know how your weekend was, you know I love hearing from you all. My Easter was spent at home. I was able to hang out and enjoy working on a Christmas stocking for Kevin. I’m cross-stitching it. My baby boy is 24 years old and this will be the first stocking that I’ve ever made him, so I’m super excited to get it done. Then I plan on making one for his amazing gal (hopefully my daughter in law someday soon), Jagger. I do hope they become forever keepsakes for them both.
I saw a quote the other day and I decided to save it because I wanted to write about it. Something about it made me think about, not only my life, but my Aunt Billie’s life. I didn’t see a title for it, nor did I see who wrote it, but I thought it was simply amazing. The photo below was what first caught my eye, then I read the quote under it. “The TRUTH is, that all of the ‘STUFF’ here on earth we work SO hard to buy and accumulate.. does NOT mean a thing. At the end of the day… people will be cleaning out our ‘STUFF’, going thru our ‘STUFF’, figuring out what to do with all our ‘STUFF’…. this ‘STUFF’ we’ve accumulated in our life. The only thing of VALUE that remains are the MEMORIES and what we deposit into others. May we all learn to spend less time accumulating ‘STUFF’ and spend way more time making MEMORIES.
Seeing this older lady, who in my opinion is no way frail, but instead, she looks to be a strong woman in an old body. I can’t help but wonder about the things she must be thinking. I see her sitting by a window looking out into the world and reminiscing on her life. I see this woman sitting there thinking about her lost loves and how they gifted her the ability to love and let go and how they showed her how amazing she was then and is now. I wonder if she’s thinking about the love of her life and the life they shared? Maybe she’s thinking about her children and grandchildren? I wonder if she’s thinking about the great and fulfilling life she’s lived? I see this woman sitting there, looking back on life and hopefully she’s like my amazing, wonderful and inspiring Aunt Billie, a strong woman that has little to no regrets.
My Aunt Billie has been on my mind an awful lot lately. You see, she hasn’t been feeling all that well. Her sciatica is acting up again and she’s been in a lot of pain. I know she’s in good hands though. Her daughter is by her side, her grandson Kevin has been there too, along with his girlfriend. Aunt Billie is a lucky lady. Her granddaughter is a nurse, so she knows exactly what to do to help her get through this difficultly she is currently facing. I’m grateful she’s not alone and more grateful that she has the best support system in the world. You see, my Aunt Billie might be older, but she is by far, the most amazing woman I’ve ever been blessed to know.
Aunt Billie has taught me that the best way to live life is to get up, face each day and before getting out of bed, say to yourself, it’s gonna be a great day. I know she’s in a lot of pain right now and that breaks my heart, however, I also know, she doesn’t sit in the pity party of life. She has a positive attitude and keeps putting one foot in front of the other and makes the best out of her situation. When I reread this quote this morning, Aunt Billie was the first person that came to mind. My aunt is a very successful woman. She was a hard worker for as long as I can remember and she has a lot to show for her work, but when you look at my aunt, when you talk to her, it’s not the physical/material things you see, it’s the love she’s built in her inner circle that you see in abundance. When her time comes, that will be one of the most devastating things for so many of us, but the memories her daughter and her grandchildren and now great grandchildren will have, those will be priceless.
I think it’s safe to say, that my Aunt Billie has deposited so many wonderful memories into the lives of so many. I’ve always said, she’s someone I aspire to be like. She’s so smart and successful, not only in her career, but in her life overall. It speaks volumes that her daughter checks in with her daily and is there for her when she has setbacks with her health, and it speaks even greater volumes that her grandkids, all four of them check in with her on the regular, if not daily. She certainly is the matriarch of her family.
I can picture my Aunt Billie sitting by her window and reflecting on her life. I always think of her singing, “My Way” by Frank Sinatra. She told me not long ago that this song is a great way to live life by. “I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain, I’ve lived a life that’s full, I traveled each and every highway, and more, much more, I did it, I did it my way. Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention.” Her attitude has got to be one of the most positive ones I’ve ever experienced. John is another person who lives life like her. I just realized, that is one of the reasons I fell in love with him. He’s so much like my Aunt. Living life with the glass half full, rather then half empty. I think it’s safe to say, that’s a life we should all want to live.
“There were times, I’m sure you knew, I bit off more than I could chew, but through it all, when there was doubt, I ate it up and spit it out. I faced it all and I stood tall and did it my way. For what is a man (or woman), what has he got? If not himself, then he has naught. Not to say the things that he truly feels, and not the words of someone who kneels, let the record show, I took all the blow and did it my way.” Aunt Billie did things her way and at the same time, not only became accomplished in business, but became an inspiration in family values. My dear aunt is 90+ years old and I know I won’t get to keep her here with us forever, but I know that the woman in the photo above is a lot like her. I can see my aunt sitting and reflecting on her life. I know she’ll be able to leave things for her daughter and grandchildren, but I know that what she’ll truly leave behind will be the most incredible memories anyone could ask for. Aunt Billie is a legacy and I’m thankful for the memories I have with her. I hope to get up too see her soon. Now that John and I have round one of our Covid shots, hopefully, she’ll feel comfortable having us come for a visit once we get round two. I hope to be able to write about her life. She has so many amazing adventures, that it would be an honor to put them into a book for all generations to read about.
I am so appreciative that you all took the time to acknowledge one of the greatest women I’ve ever had the privilege to know by reading today’s blog. While success can be measured by the things we accumulate here on earth, the greatest thing we can acquire is, memories. True value is found in the time we spend with each other. The quote that I shared has really made a huge impact on me. While I want to have success in this life, with my writing and even having a nice home again, none of it will be worth anything if I don’t have my sons and John to share it with. Making memories and just spending time together, that’s what I am being reminded of. Long walks on the beach, watching the sunset, holding hands while driving anywhere together, seeing my boys laugh and being happy, watching them play hoops together and cheering them on, those are the memories I want to take with me and those are the stepping stones for them to build more memories with. I know the value of what my sons and John give to me, and I hope to be just like Aunt Billie, giving them all good memories of me. I want to deposit into their lives nothing but love, happiness and value.
As we grow older in this life, when we look out the window and reflect, what do we see? Are we able to look back and say, I did it my way? Can we look back and say, “with little to no regret?” I want nothing more for any of us, then to be able to look back and reflect on the amazing gift of memories we have given to each other. I hope as I grow older, that my boys are just like Aunt Billie’s daughter, sitting with me, helping me through difficulties that come with aging and singing with me, making even more memories. Memories of love, happiness and support for one another. I hope to put a stamp on this life, one nearly as great as Aunt Billie has. Memories are ours to be had and something that can’t be taken away from us. I’ve learned over the last couple of years that money and material things can easily be taken, no matter how hard we work, but the one thing that couldn’t be taken away from me was the memories of raising two of the finest young men that this world has known. I look forward to making many more memories with my boys and with this amazing, loving and perfect man, my John.
Now that I am free of a religion that causes division within the family unit simply because people believe differently, I am excited to make memories with my extended family, my cousins, my aunts and uncles and all my friends that stood by me, waiting for me to wake up and see the real value in this life that God has gifted to us all.
Well guys, that’s about all I have for today. Thank you for taking the time to read my blog and a I look forward to blogging even more. Take care of yourselves and I hope today we can all make a little memory to put into our books of life. Until next time, don’t forget, Love Life++
Love Life with Dawna 