On Being Me. #WOTY2022. 6/2022.
Blogging friends, Debbie, Sue, Jo and Donna began a monthly link up relating to their words of the year.
From Debbie’s page:
This year I’m joining co-hosts Donna, Jo and Sue to provide a link party for anyone who also wants to write a monthly update to help keep the focus on their WOTY. Hoping you can join in with us.
So for this month, I am here…because I NEED to share…and that’s what blogging is all about, right?
Thank you all.
Here goes.
My TWO but very small words of the year are:
Be Me.
So what? Well, as a long time….aka about most of my 72 years I have been far more of a ‘doing’ person than a ‘being’ person although I admit over the past few years I have learned how I like to be:
- at one with myself during some art work
- at one just with nature somewhere
- and listening to an audio book of interest
And yet, my busy mind, along with my A type personality and leadership as a trait, I find it harder to admit that there are parts of being me I am yet to feel comfortable with.
By that I mean:
I have always lived my life until retirement using labels and titles as descriptors. Even in retirement, over the past 7 or so years, I have added titles because they are (for me) identifiers and that is very important for me.
But what is this to do with BEING me?
Quite a bit because in the past few months I have opted for the doing part of me many times over the being part of me and late in 2021 it became messy…in fact more than that, I became unwell with something that might have been a virus, or now, as it has happened to me twice this year so far, the OLD and familiar but not welcomed Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

I am a feelings based being. I own that!

Last week I went back to Dr Claire Weekes’ work on Nervous Illness

I do talk a bit with B, and admit to myself that I struggle at times….
Is it time for Me to own up to Being Me Now?
YES.
But it is a bit hard. However, I am aware of the kindness of others and remember this day well..when Trent Dalton told me he thought I was kind!
I am listening to an audiobook right now that is the clearest message I have ever taken on board about ageing, and the years I am already in, and on making changes in my life that no longer serve me into my 70s.
I can say it’s helped me enormously as I identified with much I heard yesterday and have now bought the e-book so I can understand and re-visit the points so well made.
It’s not often that something helps with immediacy but this time it did.
I am going to share in a post in 2 weeks on a Monday what has changed for ME and my life going forward….
But for now,
I am still that very messy work-in-progress we all know we have inside. This time, though I am greeting myself withe messages based on self-compassion. I am almost at the end of a 28 day program which had me consider my own levels of compassion towards others versus towards myself.
Quite a difference, but very enlightening.
- Me…1970
- Me…2021
- Me…2016 & 2021
And I will be writing in particular about reality checks of ageing. From MY perspective and what I am learning from others.
In fact, it’s made me consider moving past the familiar labels to BE
a later life blogger who writes about ageing and her reality of ageing.
Thank you for your first link up Deb, Sue, Jo and Donna.
I will see you again if my posts fit the bill.
I hope to see you on Monday if you want to link up for Life This Week.
Warm wishes,
Denyse.
Taking Stock.#5. 48/51. #LifeThisWeek. 128/2021.
Taking Stock.#5. 48/51. #LifeThisWeek. 128/2021.
This is the last taking stock in 2021 and may not be another when in 2022.
So, as this could be the “last one” I am going to share here about my life as it is on the eve of my 72nd birthday.
And as Pema Chodron says here…..
I am grateful for all who have made a difference in my life. Not all people are represented here because I may not have had an image. So, here goes, using images to ‘match’ a word. And using my alphabetical list.
Admiring: those people who are the trained professionals in all allied health, surgery and more, and have cared for my health.
Becoming: a part of a family, grateful for the love, care and kindness of parents and grandparents since 1949!
Curious: about life and learning….always!
Delighted: to meet up with on-line friends when I can.
Excited: that we will get to celebrate my birthday…..out for morning tea! It suits us both to do this…here’s a memory from 2018. If the rain stays away we will be going here again: a local nursery.
Feeling: that time is moving way too fast….that seems to happen after 70!
Going: to my Dad’s sometime in December to share some meals and treats. He’s certainly been the constant in my life…known me for more than 72 years!! This from my 71st birthday when I am not sure who was helping who stay on their feet.
Helping: Head and Neck Cancer Australia as an Ambassador. I have held this volunteer role for 3 years and as I said to the CEO recently, “you got me for life“.
Imploring: people to keep an eye on anything (related to Head and Neck cancer* symptoms) that might be not healing or increasing in pain. size and so on…and ensuring if a GP or dentist, doesn’t take it seriously, to seek out another option. *all cancers of course, but these ones have no diagnostic tools.
Joking: No idea what was funny at Oxley lookout last year but this bloke is quite the joker….and this wife, is not always ready for his sense of humour!
Keeping: this blog going into its 12th year is testament to my commitment but to the engagement of this blogging community even more!
Loving: the freedom of days’ activities choice when retired. Sure, there is a routine of sorts, and yes, we get up by a certain time (not tellin’) …but no bosses!
Making: memories for me and others! By cards, photos and little albums. I love doing it too.
Next: I am too easily wanting to plan what is next yet, at the same time trying to stay in the present. The one thing for me is knowing where we will be living next year, and so far, the owners have agreed to us staying on. HOWEVER, the way real estate prices have risen here, houses in our street up by $200-300K in less than 4 years, we suspect we will get a rent rise. Sigh.
Observing: the places where I lived as a teen and older and having a deep appreciation for that time.
Pleasing: to notice that I can continue to change some health habits slightly to be more health-aware in my ageing years.
Reading: the many and varied posts that YOU, my blogging friends, share here for Life This Week. We are, today, at #268 of the link up. And how I met some of my blogging friends two years ago.
Staying: on track with meditation. It will be 2 years without missing a session by end of 2021. I now do Daily Calm in the morning and another track in the evening. It still counts as one day!
Trying: to remember all I am grateful for more than ever…not everyone gets the chance to continue living as I have post-cancer.
Understanding: that life is not static. Der. But sometimes when I don’t want things to change, I then remember that they change anyway so grasping to keep things are they are is not on. I have learned much about this thanks to meditation, and listening to a range of CDs from teachers of Buddhism and more. Very wise people..and we are all human.
Viewing: old photos for this post and feeling the warmth of nostalgia but also heeding the point above!
Welcoming: changes to Covid restrictions here in N.S.W. soon, with reduction of places where you need to sign in with QR code, and having the choice to wear a mask. We think, for now, we will continue to mask up if in a crowded shop or doctors’ surgery. Definitely needed recently at a Big Hug Box packing day. NB: hope with new strain variant, we will remain vigilent.
X- “X-tra grateful” to all of the women who shared their stories of courage. In the 3 years, more than 72 women shared their stories. Wow. I have included images of all who continue to blog and link up here fairly regularly. I “hope” I have you all in this group. Let me know, if I have missed you.
Yes: to more plans to do ‘less’….and that sounds like a contradiction. In the meantime, here I am over decades of my life ‘doing’ what I most enjoy: connecting with those I care for and who love me. Perhaps a bit of a stretch re Former PM Julia Gillard, but she did thank me for my education roles.
Z – Is there anyone else I need to show my gratitude and admiration for their part of my life? Yes, it’s an old image but the LOVE from this Papa to his only grandchildren cannot be surpassed. And the love we had for him is exemplified in my brother now being Papa to his 2 grandkids and that B became Papa when his eldest granddaughter couldn’t get her mouth around Grandpa, and out came “Pa-Pa” and it sure stuck.
Thank you all for reading, commenting and sharing your blog post today.
Take care,
Denyse.
Started Life This Week Link Up. Sept 2016.
Life This Week. #268
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