A Slice of Life Post for June 25, 2024.

I need a place to rest, to unwind, to remember all that is good. Lately, life has felt especially stressful and chaotic. I’m constantly working and looking for things I’ve either lost or misplaced. I do not enjoy looking for things. But today, I want to look back and consider what I know about the world and what I know about myself. You see, it’s my birthday. Yes, just another day, but after all this time, I think I’m beginning to understand myself a bit better. I’m definitely never going to know enough about the world or claim to know life’s secrets, but since this is my special day, I felt like I might as well ruminate about a few things. a total act of self-indulgence. Forgive me, but if I live much longer, it might be fun to reread the following list to see if any of my thoughts have altered.

Ten Insights

1. It is really hard to have a good friend. To find someone who will make the effort to ask you about you or to plan something with you. A person who will listen with their heart and make an extra attempt to show they care. Friendship is like a marriage; it often takes some effort. Sometimes I need to make more of an effort for the friends I have.
2. People will do just about anything to feel loved including making very poor decisions, giving away their life savings, and basically making a fool out of themselves.
3. Narcissists are exhausting. Period.
4. I have a bias against people who do not read.
5. I often find myself feeling uncomfortable and awkward in large crowds. I’d like to be more social but fail to have the confidence I need to approach people. On the other hand, I love to chat up strangers when I’m somewhere off the beaten path. Sometimes these chats can be great conversations, but other times, I will end up feeling like the stranger wanted absolutely nothing to do with me.
6. It is difficult to trust people. People are known to use trickery and deceit to get whatever it is they are after. Lately, I’ve received a lot of requests to befriend widowed men on FB. Like, no! These men I am sure are fake and are part of a large romance scam group preying on Eastern Iowa women. Unfortunately, I have a friend who has fallen for one of these robber barons. 
7. I love to travel but I hate traffic. This is a problem as most travel requires driving down busy interstates. I like living in a place where I can get to one end of town to the other in five minutes. I realize after traveling to Europe just how spoiled I am.
8. I want to eat better, lose weight and exercise. However, I hope I get some birthday cake and ice cream today. Okay, who am I kidding, that’s only going to happen if I make it happen, and I know I shouldn’t be eating cake and ice cream. Damn!
9. The best piece of advice I’ve ever received was from my Great Aunt Adeline who once said, “Barbie, when you get to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” I wish she was still here, but we can’t live forever.
10. Forever goodbyes are hard. I think of all the loved ones I have lost from children to siblings to parents to grandparents to friends to past students, and I know I should just celebrate being able to stand up straight and breathe on my own accord. Nevertheless, it’s days like these, I wish I could get an extra big hug from the angels I have known.

So that’s a semi-brief list of things I believe to be true. Feel free to share other insights with me.

This morning, I wrote a paste pot poem to demonstrate how they can be developed for a piece I am writing. Hope you enjoy it!

Have a great day!

Barb Edler, 25 June 2024