Torn between two loves

The familiar blahs have set in again—post mini vacation—although a bit delayed this time. Maybe because I jumped right back into life with work commitments and birthdays to plan for and my online writers’ workshop to keep up with—and I didn’t have time to think: to pull out the mental snapshots of hugging my seven-year-old great niece and nephews who I haven’t seen for nearly a year. Or to recall the smell of Minnesota when the leaves begin to change and the evening air takes on a chill. But now that these memories have begun to wreak havoc on my senses, it’s as if they exist through a power of their own and I am unable to stop them. And even though I’m home now, I feel a little displaced, a little lonely. Like fragments of my heart stayed behind. I shouldn’t be surprised; it happens every time. Yet now I wonder: could I ever move back?

Do you ever feel torn between two loves?

The fountain of youth

Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at twenty or eighty.
Anyone who keeps learning stays young. The greatest thing in life
is to keep your mind young. ~ Henry Ford

Who would’ve guessed that Henry Ford would not only design the Model T, but also discover the fountain of youth? For years I thought I’d know it all when I hit the mid-century mark. Funny, but it seems there’s no end to what I’m learning. And that, my friends, is the secret to staying young. Because when we stop learning, we essentially stagnate. My acupuncturist recently told me I possess a ‘youthful’ energy. What a compliment, and one I ascribe to my lifestyle—of working out and practicing yoga, taking naps when necessary, participating in writing workshops, devouring books, volunteering and stepping outside of my comfort zone. Laughter is another element that I credit for my youthful energy and which sounds good at any age. Oh, and remember: accessorize with a smile.

How do you remain youthful?

Image courtesy of Keattikorn at FreeDigitalPhotos.net.