The chorus of a song by Peggy Lee has been going around in my head for the last couple of weeks, does that ever happen to you? A song gets stuck in your head and then you keep humming or singing it, sometimes it’s so annoying, right? It’s called ‘Is that all there is?’ by Peggy Lee from November 1969. You may not know this one, but the chorus goes like this:
Is that all there is?
Is that all there is?
If that’s all there is my friends, then let’s keep dancing
Let’s break out the booze and have a ball
If that’s all there is
This was one of my dear friend Merle’s favourite songs and the reason that I know it. Merle very sadly left us, all too soon in my opinion, she was only 72 – she was an amazing woman and the memory of her happy smiling face and her positive attitude and love for life will always remain with me.
So, what I think this song is telling me, via Merle, is that I should be making the most of life, believe me I do try. It’s a reminder that life is short, we all know that and this blog isn’t meant to be gloomy, far from it.
Spring is here, it’s a time of renewal and new life, and at Easter we should take time to reflect and see it is a sign that we must make the most of our time, take any opportunities that come up and don’t sweat the small stuff.
I am mainly talking to all the women around my age, I appreciate my age as it is a privilege denied to many and that is also why it is so important to live life to the fullest, or as full as it can be. Here again I say women because in the main we are the ones that are wired to put others before ourselves, we seem to have a guilt gene that is constantly hovering around. We are wired to serve, wired to put ourselves and our own needs on hold! STOP THAT – we are equally important and as I’ve said so many times before we can’t pour from an empty cup! I will never stop saying that (queue eye rolls – it’s okay I’m the queen of that!) because it is so true.
Whilst family will always come first, as it should, I do also feel that it is now time to take some me time. Women of our age are pulled in all directions, from partners and children that still need us to elderly parents. As you know I do carve out a lot of time for myself but at times it’s a concerted effort and given my health challenges it is also important for me to include rest days into my week – it all has to be planned and I don’t always manage that. If you are a regular reader of my blogs you will know that I constantly go on about taking care of ourselves etc., but I have recently come across more women struggling with these same issues and this is why I felt drawn to write about this subject again.
Recently I had a lovely evening with a group of ladies that had purchased my book and again one of the things that came up time and again was the fact that we need to start thinking about ourselves, putting ourselves first sometimes and prioritizing us. We are all so busy running around, worrying about partners, kids and grandkids and stepping in to help out, which is absolutely fine, I adore my grandkids and as a mother/wife that’s what you do – once you’re a mother you’re always a mother, that never changes they are always in your thoughts and prayers, trying to keep them safe and to help them whenever possible and being there to pick up the pieces when things don’t go well. But it is also vitally important to find time for you and I will continue to reiterate this, otherwise you will end up burnt out and that’s no good to anyone. Find time, even if it’s just a little time, to do the things that you want to do – that bring you joy, whatever that may be, follow your passions. The years are flying by and before you know it you’ll be looking back saying I wish I’d done more… painting, travelling, yoga, reading (whatever it is you like to do) or start small, with just a little time - it could be as simple as just putting your feet up and watching tv, reading a book, maybe a long-scented candle lit bubble bath – you get the picture.
Reading this you might be thinking, but you have an ‘empty nest’ but even when your children have grown and left home they still need you perhaps even more than when they were little, it’s just different and probably more complex. I’m sure many can relate. I absolutely love spending time with all my family, but it’s quite a juggling act to get everyone together, being in two different countries but in the end it’s all worth it.
So, preach over – I would like to ask for your help on a little project I’m working on, again age related. I would like you to send me a sentence, a paragraph, a story telling me something you have done since you have become sixty, something that you have never done before, can be as funny, dull, daring or risqué as you like. They will be anonymous anyway and there is no need for you to even tell me who you are. Thank you, please send them to me at jan.author.books@gmail.com
Wishing you all a happy and blessed Eastertime, and lots of chocolate of course!!
Comentarios