On the Brighter Side

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Challenges and Consequences

    Challenges….life seems to be a series of them.  The question is always yes or no, or worthy or not and what are the consequences?

     Those challenges began early in life when we are challenged to see who can run fastest, climb the highest, try new foods, and obey or not.  One little boy was even challenged by the setting sun that looked like a big red ball in the west.  He wanted it to stay so decided to go over there and catch it.  It did not end in with successful result.

     Baring kids felt challenged to climb the coal chute even though this was strictly forbidden.  It seemed to be some kind of rite of passage.  There it stood beckoning and some accepted the challenge and some did not.  Was it a worthy challenge?  I declined with thoughts of “what would happen next”.  Reports were that the climbers could see Edina from up there, but was it worth all the risks involved?  Too late now as the coal chute was blasted down years ago.

     Every day presented challenges in those years of our youth and accepting them had consequences as we learned new things, some worthy, some not.  Winning felt good, losing sometimes led to injuries and lessons learned.

     Years passed with even more challenges…..breaking away, pursuing college degrees, teaching which seemed like filling little blocks of time every day with questions and answers, chalk in hand and an empty blackboard waiting for words.

     Then came marriage and family.  The challenges of parenthood were far greater than expected, but worthy ones with good consequences in the end.

Grand-parenting was much easier and a joy without all the worries and responsibilities to endure….just love.

    The end of the working years opened the way for different challenges.  The question became “How do I make my life worthwhile?  What do I have to offer”?  Worthy challenges replaced empty days and life went on as a care giver and volunteer.

     Old age presents more challenges as the age old questions come to mind:  “Who am I and why am I here”?

     So, now I have time to write these little items.  I hope it is a worthy challenge that may or may not bring a few smiles to a few people.

    What’s next?  I’m in no hurry to find out but will just wait for the next challenge and hope for good consequences.

     Memories that feel as if they occurred today turn to flashes of moments that seem to fade away. What did I miss?  What will be next?               

   – MG

Contributed by Marilyn Goodwin