Locomotoring

There is a first time for everything – I am not regretting returning to everyday routines after the vacation. And I think I know why. My routine no longer feels like a daily grind.

I grew up in a culture where elders are respected. While I have not questioned that practice, I had often wondered what makes age venerable. I understand that now. It is not wisdom. It is experience and survival. Life feels complicated today, but it has always been complicated. No one has an “easy” life. Every 80 year old has survived loss and pain many times over. Reaching the finish line every day is a victory. Finishing strong isn’t necessary, just finishing is sufficient. The other day at the doctor’s office, we overheard a gentleman confirm his identity, he was 96 years old. I imagined his experiences – growing up during economic depression, the second world war, the defense boom, the hippie movement, the tech dominance, the LGBTQ+ rights revolution, the modern narrative of AI and so much more.

Everyday, I wake up, I am grateful. I made one more day. I have been dedicating each day to finding joy in my everyday routine. And frankly, I am surprised at how many moments of joy I find.

I look out at my garden I see my backyard birds. They are so tiny and mobile that I can’t recognize them with naked eyes. If they linger and if I pick up my binoculars, I see them for who they are – finches, junco, tits. Each one is a shape shifter, it looks different depending on whether it is grooming, pecking or flying. The males, females and juvies look different too. It is easier to hear them and then I am amazed with the variety of vocalizations some of them can do. When I stop to draw them, I delight in their physiological diversity. And this is just the tip of the iceberg – what I can observe with my eyes and ears.

Here are some of my recent joys in my routine….