A New York Times story (gift link) about what Olympic winners do with their medals after the cheering stops (spoiler alert, the medals often end up in sock drawers) had this nugget of wisdom:
Go Maura....! I am in the grandstands watching you get your black belt!!! Go Maura.......I just turned 78 and walk 2 miles a day......at 50 I went back and completed my PhD at 58......At 75 you helped me decide to write opeds.......those are a couple of my journeys.
I’m a terrible runner, but decided to do a 5k last December in part to honor a loved one. Standing at the starting line, I realized that everyone there had trained in their own way to tackle the course. My time was irrelevant…it was showing up and completing it that mattered.
So interesting to think of life journeys begun later in life, Maura. A couple of mine begun in my mid-70s: learning Spanish and writing a Substack. I'm on day 537 with Duolingo and have written 25 Substack posts. It's not about the numbers, I realize, but sometimes they can help the forward motion.
I love the photo, Maura. It's so you - figuring out what you need to feel more at peace with yourself, and then - even if it's not the first thing that comes to mind - actually doing it.
I wish I started years earlier… I kept passing the school, which was near my house, thinking, “well, maybe.” And not signing up. It was just my brother’s illness that made me do it.
You take karate. I learn Spanish. We're doing it - and, yes, on some days better than others! Maybe I need a fierce face when estoy aprendiendo español!
I love how you connected Olympic medals with your own personal journey, connected that to your brother's story. This is the stuff I want to read, not grand theories why the world is crap. These are the stories (journeys) we have to tell each other.
Another excellent article Maura! Your life is so interesting and I think at our age it’s about the love of learning to keeps us young at heart, mind, body and soul ❤️
I love that picture of you, Maura in your Karate clothes. You do look fierce. I wouldn't mess with you! Even in College, though, you always had self awareness and a sense of authority about you.
I too have viewed life with the metaphor of it being a journey. I think my journey has been to restore my primal memory of the power of my mind to manifest, to heal, to create my life, yes, but also that there must be something more than a life with pleasant circumstances and freedom from pain. Our minds are so powerful we can choose to believe in lies that negate and even cause us to forget our power. We can choose to ignore self-destructive behaviors and blame others for our resultant illnesses. We can commit to learning from uplifting teachers or follow fear-based public opinion and blame the "enemy" for our mis-creations. Being responsible is powerful, not shameful. While I cannot be responsible for what others do to me, I am responsible for how I think about it and what I do in return. I am responsible for my experience. Perhaps my journey has brought me to the realization that I do not have to give others the power to take away my peace, ever. I do wonder though, how long it would take me to stabilize back to peace if I had horrible or painful challenges that I needed to deal with? I hope when those challenges come my way, there will be someone to help me remember my practice of choosing peace over fear.
And this message about "the journey" is why the poem Ithaca carries such great importance for me:
Ithaka
By C. P. Cavafy
As you set out for Ithaka
hope your road is a long one,
full of adventure, full of discovery.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:
you’ll never find things like that on your way
as long as you keep your thoughts raised high,
as long as a rare excitement
stirs your spirit and your body.
Laistrygonians, Cyclops,
wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter them
unless you bring them along inside your soul,
unless your soul sets them up in front of you.
Hope your road is a long one.
May there be many summer mornings when,
with what pleasure, what joy,
you enter harbors you’re seeing for the first time;
may you stop at Phoenician trading stations
to buy fine things,
mother of pearl and coral, amber and ebony,
sensual perfume of every kind—
as many sensual perfumes as you can;
and may you visit many Egyptian cities
to learn and go on learning from their scholars.
Keep Ithaka always in your mind.
Arriving there is what you’re destined for.
But don’t hurry the journey at all.
Better if it lasts for years,
so you’re old by the time you reach the island,
wealthy with all you’ve gained on the way,
not expecting Ithaka to make you rich.
Ithaka gave you the marvelous journey.
Without her you wouldn't have set out.
She has nothing left to give you now.
And if you find her poor, Ithaka won’t have fooled you.
Wise as you will have become, so full of experience,
you’ll have understood by then what these Ithakas mean.
This was read at Jackie Kennedy Onassis’ funeral! I love this poem.
Never had read or heard this one...I love it. Thanks so for sharing it!
Go Maura....! I am in the grandstands watching you get your black belt!!! Go Maura.......I just turned 78 and walk 2 miles a day......at 50 I went back and completed my PhD at 58......At 75 you helped me decide to write opeds.......those are a couple of my journeys.
I love these, Carole! Your op-eds are my gift to the world!
Oh Maura, you are bringing tears to my eyes. Thank you.
I’m a terrible runner, but decided to do a 5k last December in part to honor a loved one. Standing at the starting line, I realized that everyone there had trained in their own way to tackle the course. My time was irrelevant…it was showing up and completing it that mattered.
Absolutely, and good for you!
So interesting to think of life journeys begun later in life, Maura. A couple of mine begun in my mid-70s: learning Spanish and writing a Substack. I'm on day 537 with Duolingo and have written 25 Substack posts. It's not about the numbers, I realize, but sometimes they can help the forward motion.
I feel like journeys begin later in life are more rewarding because we appreciate them more.
I love the photo, Maura. It's so you - figuring out what you need to feel more at peace with yourself, and then - even if it's not the first thing that comes to mind - actually doing it.
I wish I started years earlier… I kept passing the school, which was near my house, thinking, “well, maybe.” And not signing up. It was just my brother’s illness that made me do it.
Friends for Life
I learned a long time ago not to mess with you Maura, even without your green belt
You are safe with me, my friend!
You take karate. I learn Spanish. We're doing it - and, yes, on some days better than others! Maybe I need a fierce face when estoy aprendiendo español!
You never cease to amaze me, Maura!
As I am continually amazed by you!
following your star and sharing your journey is great inspiration to those with whom you come in contact!
This reminds me of the conversation between Big Panda and Tiny Dragon.
Big Panda asked, "What is more important? The journey or the destination?"
"The company," said Tiny Dragon.
I have found that to be true in my life.
I love how you connected Olympic medals with your own personal journey, connected that to your brother's story. This is the stuff I want to read, not grand theories why the world is crap. These are the stories (journeys) we have to tell each other.
Good purpose. Excellent exercise. You will feel confident. I admire you.
Another excellent article Maura! Your life is so interesting and I think at our age it’s about the love of learning to keeps us young at heart, mind, body and soul ❤️
I love that picture of you, Maura in your Karate clothes. You do look fierce. I wouldn't mess with you! Even in College, though, you always had self awareness and a sense of authority about you.
I too have viewed life with the metaphor of it being a journey. I think my journey has been to restore my primal memory of the power of my mind to manifest, to heal, to create my life, yes, but also that there must be something more than a life with pleasant circumstances and freedom from pain. Our minds are so powerful we can choose to believe in lies that negate and even cause us to forget our power. We can choose to ignore self-destructive behaviors and blame others for our resultant illnesses. We can commit to learning from uplifting teachers or follow fear-based public opinion and blame the "enemy" for our mis-creations. Being responsible is powerful, not shameful. While I cannot be responsible for what others do to me, I am responsible for how I think about it and what I do in return. I am responsible for my experience. Perhaps my journey has brought me to the realization that I do not have to give others the power to take away my peace, ever. I do wonder though, how long it would take me to stabilize back to peace if I had horrible or painful challenges that I needed to deal with? I hope when those challenges come my way, there will be someone to help me remember my practice of choosing peace over fear.