60 Happens

~ MaryG

Lo and behold, I’m able to answer today’s daily prompt! (Typically I see a message saying that I have already answered the daily prompt, as I’ve been blogging regularly for well over a year now.)

How do you waste the most time every day?

The big news is that I started this blog when I turned 50 and named it accordingly, but the seasons…they go round and round…and now I’m 60.

And, I’m still wasting far too much time looking at social media. I’ve even added TikTok to my repertoire. Oy.

But here’s what I’m going to try to stop wasting so much time on this decade: controlling situations and worrying about outcomes. I’m really REALLY going to try to live in the moment more. I want to enjoy my life.

Stephanie’s terrific response about worry reminded me that just recognizing when you’re fretting is a step in the right direction.

From the moment we get a positive pregnancy test to the day we die, moms will worry about their kids, but the active “molding” phase of that job is over for me. I can relax. I’ve told my kids everything I think they should know. We got them all the shots, hosted all the birthday parties, went to all the games, helped with all the homework, paid all the tuition bills. We did good! If I die tomorrow, they will be fine.

So, as a first step, here’s three things I enjoyed recently:

  1. Swimming outside – my outdoor lap pool is open for the season and how lucky am I that I get to swim in a nice, warm, sun-filled lap lane?
  2. Strawberries 🍓- It’s strawberry season here and they are delicious.
  3. Books – I got a free Audibles subscription for two months and have started listening to books, which is a very different experience. I find that memoirs read by the author are especially good, because they know exactly which words to emphasize! (Currently listening to Molly Jong-Fast’s new book: “How to Lose Your Mother: A Daughter’s Memoir”)

Final thought: hating DJT and everything he represents and does has been a pretty major feature of the past ten years for me. In order to enjoy my life more, I need to somehow let that go a bit. My feeling is that maybe by staying involved in my church (which is full of activists), I can feel like I’m doing something without letting the political situation make me feel hopeless. Would love any tips that other like-minded people may have about this.

Massachusetts farmstand strawberries

21 thoughts on “60 Happens”

  1. That’s it, I’m buying strawberries today. 🙂 Congratulations on 10 years of blogging, Mary!

    I’m not yet at this place of peace you describe, knowing that everyone will be fine if I die today, but I can still pull back more from fixing and finishing things, and should.

    As for DJT, I think focus has to shift to those around and behind him, and the philosophies affecting the younger generations. Feeding alternative ways to think and live. Yes, finding joy!

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    1. Thank you Stephanie!

      “Philosophies affecting the younger generations” are hard to parse, but maybe you’re right. I’m still too focused on the beast itself. Ireland is shockingly wealthy and progressive…for a country that was recently so poor and conservative…maybe it can all turn around quickly here too.

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      1. I guess I was thinking of the way the youngest gen was not out in the protests, and how there are reports of conservative bent.

        And oh wow, I need a big big dose of shockingly progressive!

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      2. Oh true! I forget about that living in MA. Just saw an article about the huge gathering of young MAGA women in Dallas: “less feminism, more femininity”

        Ireland has free healthcare, free college, legalized abortion, same sex marriage….and they’re the second wealthiest country in Europe.

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  2. Again, a very happy birthday to you and welcome to the 60s. Fresh strawberries and swimming seem like perfect ways to enjoy this season. As for what to do about Trump anxiety…first, we have to accept it as best and as stoically as we can. He is the president. He is doing a lot of rotten things. Those two things are facts. But I also believe that the protests do matter, and if I didn’t have such bad knees, I would be out there. Then there is writing and calling. Being part of a protest community also sounds helpful, but as I am “the Cat who walks alone” this is not an ideal solution for me.

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      1. No choice at all. Do you read Robert Reich? Today is his 79 birthday and he had some insightful comments in his newsletter. If you don’t get it, I would be happy to provide the link.

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      2. Thanks Laurie. I just read his post on Substack. I liked the line about why China won’t win out: “an authoritarian mono-culture won’t be able to lead the world in terms of ideas and ideals”

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  3. Happy birthday and happy blogoversity! Living mindfully is a lifelong practice that really improves the quality of life. But it takes practice: I have to remind myself to be mindful every day! Good luck.

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  4. “My feeling is that maybe by staying involved in my church (which is full of activists), I can feel like I’m doing something without letting the political situation make me feel hopeless.” I have no idea how to do this but I feel like the part about staying involved and aware without becoming overly involved is the key for me. It’s too easy to get that hopeless feeling and I hate that. Good luck Mary!!!

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    1. Thanks Brian. I think you’ve been doing a good job raising awareness of real and history & racism in the current administration’s policies in your blog. I am open on Facebook (which my conservative relatives see) about the issue that matters most to me: women’s reproductive rights. I think People in our circles may respect our opinions more than we know.

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  7. Mom’s can’t help but worry. It’s in the DNA. So glad you’ve already given the kids all the wisdom and nurturing and sent them out into the world to make decisions for themselves. You just have to trust that they’ll make the best decisions and be around whenever things fall. It’s probably not easy (I’m picturing my mom sending us out into the world), but it’s definitely a moment to embrace and celebrate! Enjoy strawberries, sitting by the pool, listening to your favorite biographies. You definitely deserve it!

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  8. Happy birthday, Mary! I think this post is a good start! The current political climate makes me anxious, hubby too, so we’re catching the highlights but not watching our favorite news shows like we used to. Can’t stand the man in the oval office. But it’s not fair to let him bring us down either. We just continue to pray that good will come from all of it. Also, letting go of things out of our control is healthy too. I’m working on it, less worrying about stuff I can’t do anything about. And strawberries have been so good!

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