Whew!
Actions create consequences…
Hatchard’s, selling books near Piccadilly Circus since 1797, is my favourite London bookstore because virtually the entire entry level floor is histories. I came across this quote from Aldous Huxley on one of the tables as we savored the minutes there yesterday. I was so tempted to buy several books but restrained myself due to the requirement to schlep them back. Plus, I am gradually learning that libraries work even in retirement.
Six months ago today I had my incredibly satisfying retirement ceremony in the incomparable Arnold Auditorium of Roosevelt Hall at the National War College. I cannot again thank everyone sufficiently for the care they took in making it what I wanted. (I do still wonder how many folks appreciated my pre-ceremony musical choices including ‘Revolution’ by the Fab Four since we all know I was certainly revolutionary for the institution). It has been an incredibly satisfying six months.
I have learned so far that I am capable of sleeping in past 0330 but am still having trouble skipping the 0500 news; lifelong habits are hard to break (No wonder I raised my kids with the admonition that good habits are easier to build than bad habits are to break). I have learned I adore the word searches and crossword puzzles of the Annapolis Post Gazette every morning; choosing which to do first is often my greatest decision before noon. I realise I love reading, photography, calligraphy, the cats, and walking every bit as much as I thought but some days I don’t get to spend enough time on them. I still love traveling but it is so much more annoying than it used to be as we come out of COVIDism. I also realise I have the most amazing friends who I likely neglected over the last several years at my peril as I spent too much time on work. I can’t face that I probably did the same with my family members without realizing it. PRIORITIES MATTER, priorities matter. Where we put our time really is a reflexion of what matters to us and we can fix things if we spend time on them in most cases.
I have also learned that it is ok to act on what matters with specific actions. I did finally look into a volunteer opportunity I had planned for several years to pursue but am ok that I consciously decided it was not precisely where I wanted to invest my time. Two years ago I would have done it out of obligation. Instead, I wrote them a thank you for the tour but explained I know what I need to commit to satisfy myself for an enduring commitment. I have decided on pursuing work with Boards of Directors for two organizations whose work matters a lot.
I know I cannot walk away from the issues I have been studying or been aware of over the past almost 60 years. That is why I started writing ACTIONS CREATE CONSEQUENCES as I realized I needed to be writing to stimulate conversation and though even though it is not going to influence millions of people. I wasn’t interested I academic writing because I think it too rarified and too often elitist. This daily rumination is what I can do to stimulate perhaps a few conversations. I hope you are finding this rewarding for your thinking. I probably see linkages others don’t but that does not mean I am always right. PLEASE respond to my thoughts to challenge, support, debate, etc. That is the civil discourse I believe we need rather than the screeching we are seeing as Twitter disintegrates into accusations and distrust. I genuinely know the overwhelming majority of those signed up for this desire that civil discourse as they are all thinkers rather than ideologues.
None of us has a monopoly on knowledge. One of you wrote me last week to say she was not nearly smart enough to contribute. I immediately said I think that wrong. Everyone can think and we sharpening each other’s thinking by engaging, helping all of us. This was and will never be just my thoughts. If we reached that point, I would have to stop as it would not be meeting my objective.
Finally, I reach this six month mark with much joy. First, we are sitting at Gatwick awaiting our flight home after seven cold but fulfilling days in and around London. We did not get to do many things we had considered because two trips to this country in six months have been undermined by rail industrial actions. I am not saying the rail works do not have a point; I cannot walk in their shoes nor do I know the public response in enough detail to comment. I just know we had to alter our tentative plans. I do know we slept little last night as we feared it would be impossible to traverse the city for the flight. We managed to do that successfully, affording us a couple of hours’ warmth and satisfaction before departing for home.
I also can say I have the unparalleled joy of spending amazing days with my best friend. He puts up with my neuroses (many) while letting me embrace my excitements (which are also many). I take each day as a gift but realise I cannot squander them.FIN