OT: Learning From The Big Picture

Cycle Of Life

As we walk through the world, the people we encounter appear so different from one another. We see babies, old men, pregnant women, and teenaged boys. We know couples on the verge of marriage and lonely widows. We interact with toddlers and the terminally ill. As different as each person seems, they are all living the human experience. They are just at different places in the cycle that begins with birth and ends with death. Every phase of the cycle of life has its gifts and its challenges. Each stage is temporary and ultimately gives way to a new phase. This ephemeral quality makes each phase precious, because it will never last.

One of the wonderful qualities possessed by babies and young children is that they are unaware that a cycle of life even exists. They simply are present to wherever they happen to be right now, and they don’t give much thought to the past or future. Being around them reminds us of the joy that comes from living fully in the moment. On the opposite end of life’s cycle are our elderly role models. They are a reminder that each phase of life should be treasured. Time does pass, and we all change and grow older.

Being aware of the cycle of life and our place in it makes us wiser. As we develop a true appreciation for the phase we are in, we can savor it more. A new mother going through a difficult time with her infant can more easily embrace her challenges because she knows that her child will grow up, and she will long for this time again. Difficult and challenging periods are inevitable, but – like everything that is a part of the cycle of life – they are temporary. When we are fully engaged with life, we get to savor and grow from each phase, and we are ready for the next one when it arrives. Fully embracing wherever you are in the cycle of life is the very essence to happiness.

I think transitions are the hardest of all life cycles.  Transitioning from a child, for instance, to a semi adult is hard and transitioning from a semi adult to a young adult is difficult as well.  I cannot think of the mistakes that I made in my early twenties when I was still thinking like a semi adult and usually involved extremes in hormones. LOL  But, my transition into where I am now and where I am going (54 going on 53 HEHEE) is probably the easiest of all life's transitions.  Maybe it is because I am so grateful to be normal after years of being the grotesque or that I know that I will live longer and with a better quality or that I am just happy that I don't give **** if my jeans makes my butt look one way or the other.  I am content.  While I was holding my son's son, who is only four months old, I smiled as he seemed so content and happy kicking and playing.  I thought how easy being that age and my age are and how all the stuff in between is what kicks our asses.  Today, my biggest life cycle challenge is telling my friend how sorry I am that she lost her 30 year old son to cancer.   His death does make me savor all the moments in my life that I take advantage of, like holding my grandchildren or talking to my kids or fixing a peanut butter sandwhich for my husband.  Life and death are like taxes and social change--they come, they go, but one thing is for sure, we must accept them. 

Thank you Darlene ...nice to see you this morning!!

Hugs...connie d