TIME MANAGEMENT

I have come to realize that the greatest gift to give yourself and others is time. In this new chapter of my life, I am learning to spend time with myself. And, to be more intentional about how I spend that time as I fully understand time is something you can never get back.

Time for myself translates into self-care and being deliberate with my daily choices. Quiet time. Drinking more water. Taking vitamins. Walking. Resting.  Making time for massages. Investing in good skin care.  And, I have stopped saving the fine china for special occasions.

Time for others looks like being purposeful with the people I love most in the world.  Devoting time and attention to my family and friends has been both life-saving and life-giving. I understand on a deeper level the love, grace and time needed to sustain real relationships.

“Time isn’t the main thing. It’s the only thing.” – Miles Davis

BOOK CLUB

I was a reader early on in my life. The Little House on the Prairie series. All the Nancy Drew books. And of course the classics. The Secret Garden. Charlotte’s Web. A Wrinkle in Time. Little Women. And the list goes on. As I grew, I began to understand on a deeper level the power of the written word.

I will never forget reading S.E. Hinton’s The Outsiders. I cried for days after finishing the book. I loved Ponyboy, Johnny and Dally. I wanted to hang out with Sodapop, Darry, Two-Bit and Steve. Those who have read the coming-of-age novel would understand how the words, “Stay gold, Ponyboy. Stay gold,” affected me then, and how to this day they can bring tears to my eyes. 

And then there is The Diary of Anne Frank. I remember weeping in the backseat of our car when I learned that Anne did not survive. And the overwhelming sadness at the realization of man’s inhumanity to man. 

As a reader and as a lover of great stories, I always wanted a beautiful space in my home to read, to write, to reflect and to reminisce. I came across an Instagram reel about a place in New York City called Book Club. It is a bar, coffee shop, and bookstore altogether. I loved the idea! 

So, I built my own bar/library nook and filled it with so many things I love. My favorite books are on these shelves. Baskets that contain my husband’s journals. My own journals and devotionals. Pictures of people I love and mementos of special moments and places traveled. And a place to make a great cocktail. Sip and read. 

What a treasure. My very own Book Club.

TRAVEL

I love travelling and have been blessed with the ability to take some wonderful trips in my lifetime.

I’ve been to breathtaking England, Scotland and Ireland. Walked the streets of my favorite city, London, many times. Taken in all the romance of Paris and soaked up the beauty of Italy, the Swiss Alps, Austria, and Germany.  I’ve strolled down Main Street in Disney World, ridden horses at Vermejo Ranch in New Mexico, skiied in Colorado, and zip-lined through the Smoky Mountains. I’ve enjoyed the beautiful busyness of D.C., Philadelphia, Santa Fe, San Francisco, New York City, Los Angeles, La Jolla and Las Vegas, and basked in the sunshine of the beaches in Puerto Rico, Laguna Beach and Florida.

There’s nothing better than penciling a trip in my favorite planner! Something about looking ahead and anticipating the joy and adventure. Where should I go next?

SONGS IN THE NIGHT

I never imagined that I would have become a widow at the age of 53. In my mind, widows were the old ladies at church. Not me. And yet, here I am. A young widow by most standards. In the days and weeks after my husband passed away, I longed to know if I was alone. Are there other women like me who have experienced the loss of a spouse and the loss of growing old with the father of their children?

That is where social media stepped in. My home page on Instagram began showing posts about grief–how to walk through it, live with it and how to move forward. It also began to show me accounts of widows and there were indeed some my age, even younger. That led me to find Songs in the Night–a ministry devoted to widows. The founder and the staff either are or were young widows. I was blown away.

There is a place on their site to send a Care Crate to a recent widow. I immediately called my assistant, told her about the company and asked if she could request a care crate for me as I did not want to send one to myself. Several weeks later, my care crate arrived. I was so thankful to receive this special package. I have since connected with the founder, and I am signed up to be a part of one of their Hope groups this fall. 

If you are a widow or you know someone who is, please use their website as a resource.