Closing This Life Chapter

 

This blog is the 63rd essay that I have written for the Power for Positive Living series.  During these past two years, I have written about the various issues that I have found as a human being and as a counseling psychologist to be helpful during my years of teaching and counseling to encourage people to build healthy Life Journeys for themselves.  This has been my gift I wish to leave with others.

If you have read all 63 of these blogs, I sincerely believe that you have a comprehensive view of how I see myself as well as my value system for living an emotionally healthy life.  I have attempted to cover a diverse range of topics that, if utilized, can help many people manage the changes in their lives with healthier choices.  Doing something about this knowledge is significantly different than just reading and thinking about changing one's emotional health.

Hopefully, I have written from first-hand experiences of living 70+ years.  Much of what I have learned has been given to you as my personal gift in this series.   I sincerely hope that you can find a way to use this knowledge in your own life where the result will be a positive healthy Life Journey.  However, like all true gifts, this is given with no expectations of what you choose to do or not do with it.

After these two years of writing a blog every two weeks, I am ready for a rest.  I will now choose some different way of living my life while still maintaining my life goal of assisting others to do what they need to do.   Writing P4PL as a volunteer for my local senior center web site has allowed me to share with many who face the issues which come with growing older in our society.


My birthday month of October seems a good time to change.  Today is my grand-nephew's third birthday!   Part of me hopes that this series of essays will be read by him some day and allow him to better know his uncle as the unique person I am regardless of whether I am able to live through his childhood and adolescence.  Family and friends can also learn about my inner self rather than just recall the outward behaviors and accomplishments which are easier to see.

For now, it is time for me to ‘check out’ for a while and follow my own advice of enriching my Life Journey with some time away from my current life roles.   I do not know whether I shall return with this series or a series of a different type.  I may just rest until the next opportunity for a life energizer presents itself.  Life continues to give me surprises and challenges as the years pass regardless of what I plan.   It may be time to work in another volunteer field.  Or, I may realize that I have more that I want to write about personal growth and return with more issues of P4PL. 

I do plan continued focus on my personal bucket list.   For example, I am eager to introduce my grand-nephew McKeehan to his first airplane flight, his first cruise and his first trip outside of the United States.  This was important to me when I did the same for his father and uncle.   

Also on my personal bucket list, there are many historical friends who have been a significant part of my Life Journey and I wish to visit with each while we are still in decent health and can enjoy extended time together.  For example, a historical friend has given me a western Caribbean cruise for my current birthday.  After 25+ years of friendship, we shall have this rare opportunity to spend extended and quality time together for a wonderful week in January.

I want to experience the continued adventure of living each day to the fullest by appreciating all of the many blessings given to me.  Naturally, I still look forward to meeting new people and creating exciting new memories.

I want to thank my older nephew for his encouragement that led me to begin writing this series in 2010.   Bryan now has part of what he wanted:  the written thoughts of his uncle on possibilities to live a healthy Life Journey.  He will have these memories of me, written by my own hand, for the remainder of his life.   His request has hopefully become a gift to many others.

Thanks to the internet, this series will always be available to Bryan and other individuals.  As stated above, I do have hope that my grand-nephew McKeehan will want to know more about his uncle some day by reading his written words.  And, may these words communicate to many others how their friendship has been an important part of my Life Journey.  Many have left significant marks of joy on my heart and mind.

For those of you who have used the email component to communicate with me about various topics of this series and personal issues, I plan to keep the Silver Chat Line email address open for another year.  Always feel free to visit me there.  While my responses shall be slower, I will get back to you on whatever you have written.  

Since this content is truly timeless in its value, most of us would probably benefit from rereading the series.   I know for myself that a second reading of these essays will allow me a different perspective and enrichment of certain knowledge from when they were first learned and when they were posted over the past two years.

Again, I thank all of you who have shared your reactions and encouragement for this series.  I believe that I have covered all of the topics that were suggested to me by readers with emails.  I have chosen not to write about divisive topics like religion, politics, economics, societal norms, etc.  Writing and sharing these blogs have certainly energized my own personal Life Journey!!

My wish is that you and I manage life’s changes by continuing to seek and choose healthy options for ourselves.  I am pleased that I could be here to offer assistance for those who chose to receive the gifts I have offered.  Life is good!

Comments welcome.  EMAIL:  silverchatline@gmail.com