BEING FULLY ALIVE WITH “LOVE”!
2026-04-26
BEING OPEN TO THE GIFTS OF "LOVE"
“It starts with being less unhappy”, according to Arthur Brooks. So I’m deciding to make a list of the activities that make me happy. I love conversations and particularly in person. Therefore, I schedule one-on-one lunches every week.
Evidently, there is research that says, “Women need more in-person eye input. Men need more touch.” Therefore, in our current world of “zoom & device” usage, it’s up to me to take the initiative to acquire in-person connections.
Secondly, I make my bed every day. For some reason, I unconsciously notice drawers and cupboard doors that are ajar; without thinking, I’m straightening things. Now that I live with three others who do not have this inclination, I remember how I handled it as a parent. I invited people over and that would get them to clean up.
In other words “fear of other people’s opinion” can actually be used to work in my favor. That’s also a good/bad value from my Japanese heritage that I can use for my own convenience! Also, I’m learning to find things about myself that I appreciate MORE OPENLY.
I am feeling lonely since my husband passed eight years ago and five of my closer friends passed in the last couple years. I have thoughts of finding a partner like I had in my marriage! What I’m learning is more about myself. What I’m realizing is that I’ve had 87 years of a pretty good life that “just happened”! Where I’m learning to be alive is to understand that my skills and emotions are attributes that I need to consciously think about and express to myself - not from someone outside?
I used to teach about the Teacher-Parent-Child inside us, needing to mature. A healthy adult learns to parent the child within! What has changed, in my last few years, is to add the “love”; not just the “will”.
Teaching was from my left-brain, logic-researched-goal oriented, to succeed in life. I did not cry with my husband’s passing because I am in control of my emotions. I can be seemingly generous, but I am always aware of my bank account.
It wasn’t all cold, I cry at movies and with Hallmarks on You-Tube. Sam and I had a beautiful Japanese style, openly non-demonstrative, great marriage because of our inherent spiritual depth. Still lot’s to learn!!