Finding Purpose and Meaning in Simple Things

 

Well, it's been another interesting couple of days. You know, I can't fault it for anything less than just kind of an amazing life that just keeps unfolding. Um, in the last few days, I rode the Acousta Trail. I attempted to ride it on my trike and I jammed up the chain which uh you know crippled the bike but within minutes people were trying to help me out including who turned out to be my neighbors uh friendly neighbors that I've met a few times uh and uh friends with the young lady that I took out for lunch the otherday which is another part of the big news. Uh I called it kind of a date, it was kind of a lunch date. It was a a situation where I asked if she would like to do something and she said, "Yeah." And so off we went. 

And it was nice. It was enjoyable. We enjoyed each other's company and uh that's that's all I want. That's that is what I want. And uh it was just kind of a great thing to be able to do. And she's a very sweet person, a very lovable, likable person. and uh you know she's more spiritual than I am. She's more of all that kindof area of thinking and thought and feeling. In fact, she recommended a book to me that I'm now reading and uh I'm thrilled with it. I'm thrilled to be able to read a new book that I wouldn't have thought of on my own. I've been looking and thinking about what would I like to read uh mo great great movies I like to watch or great books I should read to you know kind of fill out the gaps of my knowledge or experience or whatever. And so she gave me this book uh I think it's called this the chalice and the blade.And uh I I I got it. It was very inexpensive. I got it on um I'm going to say YouTube. I got it on on Amazon and I started listening to it. The audio quality isn't that great. So, I started reading it. How about that? Actually reading the book and so far I like it. And I think that it has kind of some interesting uh historical points of view on how our society uh developed, how our creatures, the human creature developed, whether we are destined and and determined to be conflict oriented or can we be more of a cooperativeuh society? And so uh it's it's interesting. I also got uh a couple of um uh oh gosh Instagrams, excuse me, from my friend, my hiking friend of 50 years. And a lot of these Instagrams are insta crap. They really are. Um just kind of um that you know, not really entertaining or informative. and and then some of the stuff. Anyway, bottom line was this particular one that he sent me was about losing a dog and how deeply painful that is and how real that is and how sometimes people tend to minimize that. 

You know, it's only a dog. And this fit in exactly with what I'm reading for the hospice book club with I think the name of that is it's okay that you're not okay. And that could have easily been the title for this about losing a dog. It's a very deep, profound, deep, hurtful experience, a huge loss, and maybe it even feels worse because not everybody gets it, you know, but it's very real. My little monkey is curled up at my feet here. And you know, you don't get loyalty like that in anormal human being relationship. You don't necessar It's not like you necessarily want it, I guess. Although, but but the point is your little doggy is extremely special. Zeke is really recreating my life for me and I'll touch on that. Um, you know, we did three visits yesterday, two facilities and then Elizabeth House. And in each case, the people who greeted us just filled us with uh with with love and and and gratitude. I don't use that word too much, but they were just so happy to see Zeke. I mean, the staff at ElizabethHouse literally on their knees on the floor playing with him. And it was a wonderful thing to see and to be part of. And uh this whole hospice experience has been just really fulfilling, really um something that thank God I found something I can do that is kind of who I am. I had said that, you know, in one of our staffing meetings decades ago. Social work isn't just what we do. It's who we are. And it is. It's who it's who I am. makes me feel good to, you know, have these nice uh interactions withpeople and feel like I'm brightening their day or feel like I'm helping in some way. And the two ladies that I met in the other facilities are, you know, just very sweet people. They have dogs. They had dogs and they just love Zeke. And this one lady was so sweet, she wanted him to sit on his lap and and he did. and he literally rested his little head down on her shoulder and kind of went to sleep. It was the cutest thing and it made her feel so good and it made me feel good. And that's how I'm goingto end this little story uh of feeling good. Feeling good by doing something nice to other people and having the opportunity to do something nice to other with Other People.