The dog days of summer are still with us as the cool evenings now suggest autumn is rapidly approaching. I am enjoying the relief from those hot humid days. It has been an awesome summer temperature-wise. For me this time of year is a time for reflection.
This past weekend I traveled with a nursing peer here in London, Ontario to Orillia. At Fern Resort we celebrated 45 years since we graduated as nurses.
We had lived together for 3 years as we trained to be nurses. Most of us lived in a place on Lake Couchiching called the Steven Leacock Motor Hotel. The views from our windows were breath-taking in all the seasons.
We would walk up to our school of nursing attached to the hospital. After school we walked back home and then back to the hospital cafeteria for our supper. Needless to say we got lots of exercise!
At times we would cook something simple in our basement kitchen. Rainy days and snow storms usually involved some Kraft dinner or Morne with a tin of shrimp in it, or just plain peanut butter on toast. The Morne was a special treat that was shared with a friend.
I was reminded of this by a peer last weekend who had perfected a similar dish because of this one we had shared. Food can often provoke memories of times and places. We shared past memories, but also looked at where our lives had taken us over the past forty-five years. There was such diversity in our nursing careers as well as many leaders in various aspects of their lives.
Reflection on Absent Colleagues
A candle was lit at every meal for our three colleagues who had passed on. One was just this year. She had attended all of our 5 year reunions over the years. She was such a bright light gone too soon and sorely missed.
You can tell when you are having a great time when the weekend is over so quickly. We will all be in our 70’s at our next reunion and probably a few more people will be added to our special candle remembrance.
Enjoy every moment you have with those special people in your life. Share with them not only the best of times, but those periods that help you to grow in some way. At times these can be painful events. Reflection on them may teach us invaluable lessons.
Yesterday as I drove to the Toronto area I had two very close calls on the 401. Though very scary, I came out on the other side. I was reminded how fragile life can be. I was also reminded to let go of things that really don’t matter in the long run. People and relationships are the most valuable things in our lives.
I felt that I definitely had some guardian angels working around the clock to keep me safe. For this I was truly grateful. So please pause for a moment to look at your life. Is there something you need to be “right” about? Is it truly all that important? If your day ended today would certain issues really matter? Wouldn’t you rather tell someone you cared? It is all about perspective!
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Enjoy your Fall and all the beautiful colour changes to come. Most of all enjoy your life fully!
