by Lucinda Bassett
Hello Everyone!
Katherine Hepburn died at the lovely ripe age of 96. I hope I live that long, or longer. How many people do you know that say they don’t want to live to that age? I don’t understand that type of thinking. They are afraid of getting old instead of embracing life. Even Katherine had health issues for at least 30 of her ‘last years’ but she didn’t let that stop her. She wasn’t a complainer. Even with health issues she lived life with gusto. In a recent interview she said that people, walking, and home are the things that matter. I agree. Yes she was in love with a married man, and yes she never had children. She admits to both, and to having some regret…about the latter. She wasn’t perfect.
Focusing on the Simple Things in Life
The older I get the more I want to just do the simple things that “I” want to do. I love hanging out at home making a nice dinner for my family. I love to walk my dogs. I really enjoy my yard, my flowers, and putzing around. I love to hang out with my daughter in her room at night. I love to hear my son tell me stories of his day when I put him to bed. Doing these things keeps me interested in life and helps me keep anxiety at a distance because I see that there is so much in life to love.
My husband David and I try to walk together everyday. I really enjoy that. Give me more of all of that and I’ll be happy.
Keep Your Expectations Simple for a Good Life
The older I get the more I realize that nothing’s perfect and that’s okay. It’s even okay that my kids aren’t, that my husband isn’t, and yes, that I am not. Whew! I am much more accepting of people in general and as a result it is easier to have friends and keep them. I don’t expect as much from people, I just let things be. I enjoy what I can and let the rest go. I don’t get caught up in things. I don’t ‘hang on’ to anger or disappointment. It is so much easier. I am happier because I don’t have exaggerated expectations that could never be met.
Appreciated the Good Things about People in Our Lives
My oldest child, my daughter Brittany is going to be a senior this year. I can’t believe it! I find myself wondering, did I take enough video? Do I have enough pictures? Will she be able to cook? Can she manage her money? Did I teach her the important things about life? Does she know how much she is loved? I can definitely say yes to the last two, and that is enough for me.
She is strong, confident, and a leader. She is always there for her friends and very sensitive toward people. She takes immediate interest in others and is quite engaging. She is loving and bright. She is amazing, and I am so glad I made choices through my life that put my children first. It shows. She seems to embrace life and others without any anxiety. For that I’m very thankful.
Facing the Challenges in Life Shows Us Who We Are
In the times we’re living in, with all the uncertainty and insecurity, it is good to appreciate your life. It isn’t always easy. When you have money problems, marital problems, or health concerns, life can be a struggle that creates a lot of doubt and anxiety, but no one avoids struggle.
Everyone has to deal with the challenges life brings. That’s when we find out who we really are.
Spend Time Doing What Makes You Feel Good
It’s good to spend more time doing what makes you feel good. I hope you know what that is for you. If you don’t, I suggest you read Life Without Limits immediately!
We recently did another television shoot with people who have gone through our Attacking Anxiety and Depression program. It was so much fun to meet all these wonderful people and hear stories about how they overcame symptoms of anxiety and depression. It was so moving to see how much the program has helped these people and affected their lives. It was so nice to travel to Phoenix and hang out with the people I work with, especially Carolyn. We always enjoy our ‘girl’ time. Yes, life is good.
I encourage you to step back and ask yourself what you can do on a simple scale to enjoy your life more. This can have a real impact on the quality of your life and can reduce your feelings of anxiety and depression when you realize what you have. Maybe you just need to look at things differently. Maybe you need a little more self-time. Maybe you need to be less hard on yourself or others. Maybe you’re doing a great job enjoying your life already!
Here’s hoping life is ‘good’ for you.
Until next time…
God Bless,
Lucinda
