History is the humbling story of our misbegotten inflations. Truth is the corrective story of how we return to exactly who we are. Compassion is a never-ending story of how we embrace each other and forgive ourselves for not accepting our beautifully particular place in the fabric of all there is.”
~~Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening, entry for January 10th titled, “Akiba”.
As a child, I wanted to be many things.
Comedian, magician, ventriloquist, priest, rock & roll singer, guitarist, and artist with crayons or oil paints.
After my father passed when I was age 11, I believed I had to find a career that would help me create a reliable income stream. That led me to believe the dreams of my childhood were foolish, that I was not good enough at any of those things to make a living. All my childhood stuff of “artsiness” faded into a distant memory that I declared was not me.
Instead, I went to college and chose a career to create things of certainty — mathematics, structural engineering, computer programming, and the building of structures for databases and websites. Putting together these puzzles, I served the needs of companies that have hefty balance sheets. My working life created an income stream to build and support my family 3 precious children.
But when I turned 60, an age 1 year older than the age my father passed, I realized the Universe was giving me more years than he had. And what would or could I do with those years?
My Comparing and Competing instincts flared up when I happened to see a photo online of Lake Louise that was taken by my former boss. My thought was “If he can take a photo that good, so can I, and even better!” It pushed me to get a digital camera, and over the next 14 years I made about 46 trips to photograph the many beautiful natural (and structural) national parks and cities.
Now that I am retired, I have even more time to be “Exactly Who I Am.” Without worrying about money. Without comparing myself to others. To be completely who I am. I use my gifts in photography, humor, and web-building (structure) to share what I can now see is abundant in me.
May beauty bring you awe, humor bring you joy, and structure bring you peace.
In compassion, I embrace my gifts and forgive myself for the times of not accepting my beautifully particular place in the fabric of all there is.
I remember you well from the photo class at Ghost Ranch some years ago. .I am delighted that your retirement years are giving you the opportunity for new life discoveries. At 91 years I join with you in finding new understandings and peace as we embrace the sacred journey of life.
I remember you too, Truman! I loved being at Ghost Ranch and meeting you!
Your words inspire me. Thank you for your message!
It is good to see that you are becoming more and more, who you were always meant to be.
From my niece Paula!
Inspiring photos Uncle Harry. It is amazing what God places in front of us. Most people never slow down enough to take in all of the beauty around us. Too often I see people having their heads down and phone in hand. They are too tied to this piece of technology to recognize the important moments in life. Watching the sunset, never ceases to take my breath away. In those moments, we know how truly blessed we are.
Thank you, Paula!