Welcome!

Gestalting YOUR Day

Return to Realities of life:

In my last newsletter I shared some anticipatory thoughts and projections vicariously experiencing our two-week vacation in Germany with our terrific son and daughter-in-law and their most curious, enthusiastic and fun-loving children – Aidan and Anna. I believe everyone would agree with me that all turned out well – beyond all of our expectations. Brilliant sunshine welcomed us and remained until the day we left. It was incredible to wake up to the songs of birds at 4:20 AM and witness the sunset after 10 PM in the evening. This allowed lots of time to explore and enjoy the culinary delights of Bavaria and the Black Forest. Even the children relished tasting "strange” foods; they loved Bretzel, rolls and butter, Spaetzle, Bratwurst and German Salami. The adults enjoyed beer – what else – not moi, I remained true to wine which tastes quite different because there are no chemicals added for European consumption.

Of course we went hiking and sightseeing in Bavaria and the gentler, romantic Black Forest where I am from. We hiked, not walked, around incredible lakes at the foot of enormous mountains and along mountain streams, savoring the wild orchids and other wild flowers that were still in bloom in the midst of thickets. The kids learned rock climbing – the real thing. They were thrilled to be on the Zugspitze (highest mountain in Germany) and be on a spot where Germany and Austria meet. Of course, to be in Germany when the German soccer team won was almost too much excitement to bear (Aidan 12, and Anna 9 are both avid soccer players). Personally, I have never experienced such a wildly jubilant celebration; the crowds went wild everywhere, cities and towns were blocked off, cheering and horn-blowing for days. I have no doubt that Aidan and Anna managed to skyrocket the German economy purchasing everything in sight that had to do with German soccer – they were on cloud 9 – never mind the reception and respect they’ll gain from their team mates for actually having been there!!!! Not Africa, of course.

Then lastly, we visited my family, the cemeteries, and the birth places of my parents. I am the Matriarch in my family, a status in German families that requires honoring visiting family members and/or being visited by them. This is not an ornery obligation but in our case a privilege and celebration. Last but not least, I actually existed without a phone, computers, and emails and loved it.

Personal Reflections:

The first thought that comes to mind is ‘building wonderful memories’. I smile as I am reflecting on this whole trip, the joys, daily experiences, observing the children’s expressions when learning something new, deepening my sons understanding of his roots (his third trip), and sharing all while growing as a family. When life brings hardships as it invariably does, it is memories and experiences like these that make life bearable, sustainable and wonderfully joyous because or in spite of it.

So how about you?

As the last time, I would like you to be with your own reflective thoughts. Keep in mind as you do so that we do not always have control over what happens but what we do with it is all up to us as individuals.  In some previous newsletter I wrote that becoming increasingly aware of positives in our lives goes a long way to leveling the playing field.

may I be gay

like every lark
who lifts his life

from all the dark

who sings his why

beyond because
and sings an if

of day to yes

~ e.e. cummings

“nothing” the unjust man complained
“is just” (“or un-“ the just rejoined            

~ e.e. cummings

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