THE SOLACE OF THE RIVER

When something stressful invades my life, I always find myself turning to water. 

Living inland, I can’t enjoy the comfort of deep blue water or the sound of crashing ocean waves.  But there are peaceful lakes and rivers all over the world, and they are there for you in times of despair.

My river—the Wabash—isn’t blue like the ocean unless the sun is very bright and the sky is cloudless.  It’s often a cool, pale green.  While watching the gentle,  rippling waves moving up toward  the bend in the river,  I  begin to relax , knowing that the Wabash is here for me now, and tomorrow.  It’s steady and predictable and comforting.  And even if I’m not stressed out, it give me a sense of  awe that heightens my self awareness and satisfaction with life in general.

The river in my city isn’t a particularly popular destination.  The far side of it is lined with trailers where poor people used to live, and some still do.  A cluster of subsidized senior housing units nearby doesn’t add much glamour.   It isn’t a ritzy, fashionable spot, although the city has cleaned up our side, and provided grassy parks where children can play, and shelters where folks can picnic. But it’s lined with towering trees and leafy bushes,  and if I walk there around noon, I see many parked cars with solitary drivers. reading books or cheering themselves up from whatever might be wrong in their lives.

Actually, I’m glad my river is a well kept secret.  It wouldn’t be nearly as peaceful if it were overrun with crowds.  There’s a movement in the town to do something like the river walk in San Antonio, Texas, but  I’m hoping that doesn’t come to pass in my lifetime.  Right now, I like driving past the small childhood home of musician Paul Dresser who wrote, "On the Banks of the Wabash,”  and his brother,  Theodore  Dreiser , the author of  "Sister Carrie” , and feel that moment of joy when I see the sun light shining across the water.

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ENJOY LIFE! GET UP AND GO

Most working people dream of the day when they don’t have to set the alarm clock anymore.   And yet, when retirement day finally arrives, you may find yourself waking up early every morning, anyway.   Then follows a period of self imposed busyness. You volunteer, baby sit your grandkids, go on trips, join  clubs…anything to get back that sense of purpose you once had.

After several years,  all the work you’ve created for yourself begins to feel like—yes, work.  You tire of the endless squabbles among volunteers, the self imposed deadlines, driving here and there to attend meetings, dressing up for card parties that are beginning to tire you, and the gym workouts you’re starting to dread.  And so you slow down.  Your knees creak, your back aches,  you stop doing much of anything, and sink into a low mood. 

Your get-up-and-go just got-up-and-went.

Especially if you’re on various medications,  you may wake up so groggy that it takes all morning just to fix a bowl of cereal. After you manage to get dressed, you might sit in a chair all day and watch television, read books, and feed the cats. It seems a lot easier, especially if your spouse or partner is slowing down, also.  

Now is the time to make yourself get up and go.   You’ll feel more alive and cheerful after a brisk walk in the park, even if you have to bring along a cane.  If you’ve always been a swimmer, it may seem like too much bother to go to the YMCA, change your clothes, and do those laps.  But you know what? When you walk out that door and into the sunshine, you feel like a new person.  Tell yourself to get some kind of exercise every day.  If you don’t like walking, you can enroll in an exercise or tai chi class for seniors.  Don’t go a few times and give up; stick with it until you feel better. Or, if your knees are in good shape, take some dance lessons.  This time of year, gardening is a wonderful way to work your muscles, pump some oxygen into your blood, and have a feeling of accomplishment.  Even housework qualifies as good exercise.

 

Stop regretting the past and dreading the future.  Enjoy life right now! Get up and EightyGo.