LIFECYCLE 68

 

BIRTHDAY 68: defining the lifeCycle

A few days ago I put some thought into how life and living have been going. It seems that the end of a birth year cycle is really the best time to reflect, assess and evaluate the pluses and minuses, and prepare a vision for the next 365 days.

Putting together a ‘year in review’ video slideshow was a great exercise. It helped me to  visualize the people, places and parts of the year that strengthened my resolve to bloom, build and blend all things that define me, defend me and describe me. I am not a techie so the project took much patience, push and pull, pleasure and pain, passion and pride. I kept at it until the early hours of a morning, determined to get it done — that in itself is very telling. I don’t give up easily. Just before turning off the computer I remember saying “I am happy now”. I walked upstairs, slid under the covers, placed my head on the middle of my favourite pillow, and slipped into a deep sleep almost instantly. It was two a.m.

The next morning I reviewed the “final” and tweaked it a wee bit more with a bit of musical accompaniment. I did one version with a favourite French song by Edith Piaf and the other version is simply instrumental with some subtle drumbeats. Drumbeats are like heartbeats.  I envisioned the finale as a delicious, freshly made “everything bagel” probably because by then I was hungry, and I knew the video contained the best contents I could find to fill two minutes of film! 

So, on the eve of the clock striking twelve on November 24th, I received feedback from individual video recipients — a lot of feedback. I applied their recommendations and I knew the video was then ready for full release. I called it: Celebrating Life and Living On. It accomplished a goal.

But, despite all the excitement that video gave to me, the biggest surprize and greatest joy by far, that birthday eve, was an awaiting recorded message from my Great Grand Niece Sophia who lives in Perth, Australia! Imagine hearing the sweet sound of a child’s almost four year old voice, someone whom I have spent time with only three times so far, singing happy birthday to me! She wasn’t shy; she wasn’t lacking confidence; she pronounced each word carefully and clearly, and with spirit. My heart jumped with joy as I listened to it almost five times in a row. I held my arms up high to SkyWorld, pressed my hands together, did a pirouette and watched the stars shine. Sophia is one of my earthly stars!

That night I slipped into my flannel pjs early, sat up in my bed with five pillows behind me and my monster pillow resting on my shins. I did some quiet meditation as I said goodbye to the year that was, and hello to whatever is to come, and drifted into sleep mode until the first phone call rang in at eight am. It was my younger brother who always seems to be the first to call. I’m glad he waits until 8! — 8 in my timezone!

The rest of the birthday morning was mostly spent reading and acknowledging all the wonderful best wishes messages on various social media options, plus emails. This quiet time becomes an opportunity to realize and feel the love around me and within me.  I think that is the power horse behind all my excitement and energy to continue to branch out, bloom and cycle on. I can’t think of a better way to explain it but to say that there is a lot of Qi (life force energy) in me. I embrace that mystical power with determination and without reservation, as my wheels keep moving me forward slowly and easily, at my own pace, confidently. (Qi is more than just a good scrabble word!)

With only an hour left to spare on that morning, I made my favourite breakfast of cappuccino, French Toast with real French Canadian maple syrup and crispy bacon. I then showered, dressed, jumped into the car to pick up a friend, and drove to a baby shower in a city close by. It felt good to get away from birthday excitement for awhile, socialize with lots of familiar people from days gone by, then return home to look around to see what’s behind me, in front of me, and imagine images of what’s to come. I could feel my heart smile.

Life’s been very good for me in the past few decades and I take none of it for granted. I want to explain this in the form of a metaphor since I love metaphors and this one has just the right timing: 

I can see my lifecycle has a lot to do with the “cycler” in me; yes, I am a cyclist, a casual, simple cyclist. Cycling is my favourite pastime. I absolutely love it as an activity, and I use it as a metaphor to accentuate or appreciate and explain who I am. 

I keep the tires firm and wheels turning, slowly, quietly and confidently. There is only one direction to go and that is forward. I never race or hurry or sweat. I stop often to notice, enjoy and appreciate people, places and things along the way. I wear a helmet to protect my brain from illogical nonsense and wear bright clothing to help the almost completely blind see. My sometimes not so subtle bell startles the hearing challenged and causes them to think hard. I regularly check the air in my tires through meditation exercises, to ensure balance, and my saddle supports me when engaged in open and honest discussions with people who seriously want to be a strong spoke in my wheels. I accept that sometimes I have to let go of some air and other times I have to add more. I do this to avoid flats, as I have had enough of those! Looking carefully, from time to time, into the mirror affixed to the handle bar, helps life too.

I also attribute my well paved multipurpose cycling path (my diverse interests) to having great family and friends who keep my pedals charged with confidence and feelings of encouragement and support. 

Cycling and “cycling” both as a metaphor and a thing I love to do, are key to my happiness and to my moving forward —  for that, as well as my family and friends, the year in review video and Sophia singing so sweetly, I am very grateful for all that I have, as I cycle purposefully and optimistically to more of the same as year #69 unfolds.

Celebrating life and living on …. Thank you to everyone who travels along through easy and sometimes not so easy times, slow and steady, balancing the best we can, keeping our chain links well oiled and the vélo moving forward, together.