Precious Life

Happy Father’s Day, everyone!

Today is super hot. Since I was sick earlier this spring (here and here), I haven’t been able to get out on the kayak so I just had to get on the river today. Had to.

Today’s weather

I opened my eyes, rolled out of bed, filled a Contigo cup with Earl Grey, got dressed and was pulling Smokey Robinson out of the shed in about 15 minutes flat. On the river by 7 am. While it was still relatively cool out.

Tiny island on the Mill Pond. Love the early morning stillness on the river.

I got as far as here, going against the current (slight, but still there):

Black Bridge Road. About 2 km from where I began.

Then I turned around and kicked off my sandals and relaxed, to sip my tea and let the current slowly, peacefully, take me back home.

This is the best way to spend a Sunday morning, without leaving town, that I know of.

I made a short video of my drift, so you could hear the riot of birdsong that was the soundtrack to my morning. But WordPress says it is too big of a media file to upload, so please check out my Facebook or Instagram (right hand side of ye olde blogge) if you want to view it. And turn the sound up please!

While I drifted, I kept thinking about a website I was directed to, in one of Alastair Humphrey‘s newsletters. I highly recommend you subscribe. His newsletters are full of interesting tidbits and links related to adventuring. After all, this life is our biggest adventure, isn’t it? And I am a huge fan of his coining of the term “micro-adventures”. I try to have micro-adventures whenever I can, for now…mega-adventures to come once I have more free time!

In one of his recent newsletters, Alastair shared this link – Your Life in Weeks – which he calls a terrifying firework up the bum to get on in life. So of course I had to click on it. Go ahead and check it out, I’ll wait.

It can be sobering to count out the weeks or months to a 90 year life span. And more sobering to realize that there is no guarantee one will even make it to then. But, I also think it is a great and necessary reminder that life is quite finite, and every week or month (or day or hour for that matter) that passes brings us closer to the end. It helps to remember this for better decision-making, I firmly believe.

And far from feeling morbid, it makes me feel so damn grateful instead – to be able to savour these happy moments like this morning on the river. I doubt I’ll be hauling a kayak down to the river when I’m 90. More likely my kids will be saying something like “Mom would have been 90 this year.” (I know my genetics ain’t the greatest…just sayin’).

I am so inspired by this graphic of a lifespan in weeks, I am going to translate this idea into a painting. But I will go by months (moons) instead. Something to hang up to remind me not to waste time or my precious life.

Do you find it comforting or terrifying to look at your life in this way?

Rock on,

The WB

 

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22 thoughts on “Precious Life

  1. I like the sound of your Sunday morning! I’d say it doesn’t get much better 🙂

    It’s pretty sobering when I think about all the weeks that have simply flown by without an acknowledgement of any ‘wow’ along the way. This post has reinforced my desire to make each new week count!

    I like the idea of creating my own infographic … I’ll add it to my already very long Things-To-Do list. Maybe something to do one day in the dead of winter!

    1. Agreed, Joanne! We’re all guilty of letting time get away from us or treating it like an infinite supply, I think. Good to have a reminder and to capture and acknowledge the wows.

  2. Checked out the video, that was quite a symphony you had going on. What a lovely, peaceful start to the day. I’m trying to get my husband out on the river (which runs right thru our town) but we’ve been working on a house project and I’m not sure when we’ll have time. Yes, if we aren’t careful, the summer will pass us by. I never take life for granted anymore – after being benched from hiking several times, I’m so grateful when my body works like it is supposed to. Glad you’re feeling better. We’ll be heading up your way at the end of July – 4 nights in Toronto. Maybe we can grab a lunch? Have a great week, and keep on enjoying life!

    1. Karen, that would be great if we could meet up! Email me the details – theWB@widowbadass.com – and we’ll figure something out.
      Good luck with your house project. I’ve had a few summers of renovations lately, and this year is the first one with nothing going on. You can bet I am going to enjoy it!
      You have a great week as well!

      Deb

  3. Jean R.

    I did a lot of canoeing in my first 25 years of life so I can imagine your morning on the river. Great way to start the day. I love the term micro-adventures. I checked out Humprey’s website but that ‘your life in weeks’ link didn’t work. I found it anyway. Scary for me with only eight more years to go, assuming I make it that far! You go, girl!

    1. Hi Jean,

      Thank you! I hope I make it to your age – that would be wonderful. But it’s more than just the number achieved, isn’t it? It’s the quality of life even more so than the quantity. I don’t have too much control of the quantity (other than trying to take care of what’s left of myself 😉 ), but I feel I have lots of control over the quality.

      Deb

  4. That stillness is beautiful – we have a canoe and I must admit that I don’t go out in it anywhere near as often as I should. I’d forgotten how lovely it is to float downstream and listen to the quietness. I also tried loading “Your Life in Weeks” but it was being stubborn and timing me out – will have another stab tomorrow.

  5. Hi Deb,
    I’ve seen the life in weeks graphics before but looked at them again (no problems with the site for me). I truly appreciate the reminder, Deb, and the example of the wow moment you created for yourself yesterday.

    I also appreciate the idea of creating a personal version of the graphic for myself. I think that would be a great thing to do, especially right now when I feel a bit as if I’m treading water rather than doing things that would have me noticing and appreciating the days and weeks for something other than the fact that they are flying by! I think I’ll work on something this week. Thanks for the nudge.

    1. Hi Karen,

      I just tried the link and it worked for me too. There must have been a blip with that website yesterday, that people couldn’t reach it. Glad it wasn’t me that goofed, which has happened before!
      This is a good week to stay indoors more (or at least in the shade) and work on something like this! There are so many ways it could be worked on, in all kinds of media. If you check the comments below the Life in Weeks article, you’ll see that some people have even come up with digital versions.
      Stay cool, my friend!

      Deb

  6. I once used that (or a similar) weeks chart to see where I was, with the goal of continuing to fill it out so I would be able to motivate myself to get stuff done. I did a poor job of that – I filled it out for, like two weeks, and then totally forgot about it.

  7. I’m not reading many blogs right now while I recover from my concussion, but your title was irrisistable in light of what I’ve been through lately. Yes, life is precious. And I do think about how every day I live is closer to the end. As you say, not to be morbid, but to savor and practice gratitude. In the blink of an eye one’s health and serenity can be dashed, so every day I’m upright and taking nourishment is a gift. Love your kayak trip as an example of how to seize the beauty of the day in micro-adventures. If you only live for the mega-adventures, you miss out on a lot.

    1. Holey moley, Molly! I didn’t know had forgotten you had received a concussion. I hope you feel better soon and recover fully. Thanks for reading and taking the time to comment!

      Hugs,

      Deb

  8. I like stillness and the idea of being in a kayak, sipping tea. Lovely adventure you shared.

    I find comfort in my heart thinking through the scope of my life BUT in my mind I’m terrified about how much money it’ll take to live comfortably until I’m 90. But then my heart takes over again and I’m mellow. And repeat.

    1. I worry about that sometimes too, Ally. But then I remember the happy and comfortable life my mom and others lived on much less $$ than I already have saved for retirement and I get mellow again too. Plus my financial advisors tell me I’ll be OK too. I do hope they’re right and that I do get to live to 90 to know for sure!!!!

  9. Hi Deb! I am a bit late getting around to read this but I so appreciate the photos AND the reminder to “be here now.” It is far too easy to get caught up in busy-ness (or preplanning!) that we forget to even notice all the beauty around us. Your photos are stunning and so lovely and peaceful. I want to also check out that timeline that you mention. I agree that it is so important for us to remember that we won’t be around forever and that we must make the most of every single day. Thanks! ~Kathy

    1. Thanks Kathy! We all need to be reminded on the regular 😁. Very happy you and other bloggers take the time to post about living in the now! It always snaps me back to what’s really real and true.

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