Notes from the Spring Creek Arts Guild

A few days ago my daughterin-law called wanting help understanding some retirement account options at her new job. We talked about the workplace retirement accounts versus DIY retirement accounts, among other things. I was talking to my husband about all of this later and told him when you are in your mid-twenties, retirement is so far off into the hazy future that it is hard to even see it, much less plan for it. But the fact is that it does not take nearly as long to cover that forty-ish years as it seems like it will. You get busy working and living life, and the next thing you know, you are nearing retirement age.

I have a friend on Facebook I have known since we were little girls and our fathers were Air Force co-workers and friends. About a year and a half ago, she lost her husband to COVID. Yesterday, she posted “The biggest mistake we make in life is thinking we have time.” Perhaps it is my age or the fact that we are living in remarkably unsteady, changeable times, but I find it hard to get serious about making long-term plans these days. It feels like counting my chickens before I have even bought the hens who will lay the eggs! Who knows if hens will be available? Or if I can get the henhouse built? Or if feed will be available? Or if we will get a winter storm that will kill all of my hens before they can get to laying age? It has gotten harder to say goodbye to friends and family because the illusion that “I’ll see you again in a week/month/ year” has been totally shattered in my mind. I even question myself when I tell my dogs, “I’ll be right back,” and I do tell my dogs this whenever I run to town. They seem to understand what that means.

The truth is that things have always been very changeable and chaotic, but recent events have made it harder to pretend otherwise. Fates and fortunes have always turned on a dime, freak accidents have always happened, there have always been illnesses that have swept through populations, and natural disasters have always popped up out of nowhere. Jesus spoke of this 2000 years ago.

This all sounds pretty sad and depressing, does it not? I am sorry. Yes, it can be depressing and maybe even frightening, but it can lead to something very positive. Instead of thinking we have time, maybe we should realize that we may not, so maybe we should make the most of what is right here and right now. Be kind, be productive, make the most of every minute, stop waiting around, stop wasting precious time, stop procrastinating, put the phone down, turn off the TV, tell the truth, tell people that they matter to you—that you love them. By the way, I am writing this mostly to remind myself to get with it and hoping that by sharing it, someone else may find value in it. Time management has never been my strength, but I keep trying! Until next time… <SpringCreekArtsGuild@gmail.com>.