Back to Meg!

Let us fill out Meg’s profile some more.

At 80 years of age Meg has filled her life with doing things for other people, and doing things with other people. She does not wait for them to come to her. She sees a need and jumps right in. She also seeks guidance on these activities so she knows she is not reinventing a wheel already in existence, and she gladly helps existing organizations work better and smarter.

She hasn’t always been like this, of course. She grew into this pattern of life as she aged. It began in her early 70’s. Her family was living well in their own regions, raising their children, educated and prosperous in their careers. They were invested in their communities, too; church on a minor level, girl and boy scouts for the kids; hobby groups and school activities, too. PTA and outdoor activities for the California son’s family. Winter sports for the Ohio daughter’s family. Two regions with very different lifestyles.

Meg understood this dichotomy well. She didn’t judge, either. Both families were doing well and self directed. They didn’t need interference from her. Nor did she need their coddling presence. She was doing just fine on her own, thank you! And she treasured her independence.

That independence gave Meg freedom to explore life in all of its dimensions. Well, as many dimensions as Meg had interest for or ability and stamina to spend on such interests. Once Meg thought of travel during her golden years but now she realizes walking on uneven surfaces is not only tiring, it poses tripping dangers. No need to travel for fun and interest all the while worrying about life, limb and injury far from home. No, Meg found other interests to pursue that replaced her yen for travel.

For one she read about various religious beliefs and how they formed over the thousands of years throughout the globe. She recognized the yearning for answers to complex questions that only the wisest of sages could answer. And even then those answers were philosophical enigmas that seemed to placate the unease of unknowing, yet wrap such thoughts in continuing mysteries. No answers really. Just as she thought would be the case.

No, Meg was satisfied with her journey of religious reading because it supported her theory that she was on this quest pretty much alone. Others had preceded her but in the final analysis each of us is alone with their life and their end. The mystery is not existence or death. It is not even about the why we are alive. Rather, Meg discovered it is about the what we do with our time and talents.

What do we do with life? Why does this matter? Who do we touch and how do they affect us? Or me? That is the essence of life, isn’t it? We live, love and learn. We touch other people’s lives. Other people touch our lives. For an instant or for a lifetime we intermingle our life resources and create unknown results rippling out for generations unseen. Just like the generations that came before us and made great impacts unknown and undefined from which we benefit.

Quite a mystery, really. Meg knew this eventually. Instinctively, too. She didn’t need anyone to tell her so. It was obvious. Comforting as well. We are here to be and make the best of it. In that is great comfort and ease.

All that was left for Meg was to discern where and how she could touch other lives. It was no longer a question of when. It is Now.

August 25, 2016