OT: The Queen of Hearts said .....

[jezzie]

"The horror! Time is getting short for me and what have I accomplished?"

Do you ever ask yourself: What have I accomplished?

[jezzie]

Guess I should have answered my own question.

I squandered far too much of my time. And I was far too self-indulgent.
I miraculously wound up with four near perfect off spring in spite of me.
(How does that happen?)

Much of my time these days is spent in ... learning, laughing and loving.

[Kenwyn]

Yes I do! I have to stop and remind myself of some of the things I have accomplished.
I have earned 2 bachelor degrees over the years.
I am always striving to learn something new.
And I have earned the love and respect of some wonderful kids.

And I still waste too much time!

[way2fluffy]

I don't know. Seems like there is always something that I'd like to do. Specifically 'giving back'. I want to do Habitat and perhaps Red Cross, mentor some kids.
I was a working RN for over 20 years and felt as if I gave that 100%. I think most of the time I did well.
I'm proud of my children. I've been a mom since I was 20 yo. Having an empty nest doesn't sound too bad some days. But I wonder how I'll cope when the time comes.....
I think I've carved out a good life for myself. I think back to when I was in high school and I've really done what I felt was the most important wish....had children.
Now that my youngest is in high school, death doesn't worry me as much. I feel like they would be OK without me now....so everyday from here on out is 'gravy' if you know what I mean.
I have so much to be thankful for.

[mykneesareback]

I do ask myself that often. I'm working on my list for the "next life" now. I'm not trying to be flip either. I need a "do over", if you know what I mean.



Doris

[Verleen]

Jezzie, with your children, you have accomplished the most a mother can. When I was working, I had a successful career. I thought, through my job, I was accomplishing something worthwhile. Now that I've been retired, I came to believe that it was just a job with a paycheck, like most other jobs.

Through the years, I have thought about what have I accomplished and feel that I haven't accomplished anything of value. This bothers me because I always felt that I survived one of the most severe cases of polio as a child for some reason. The polio doctor told my parents that there was no possibility I could survive. But I did, and I thought it had to be because of some reason. So far, I've not done anything to shake the earth....lol......or even an individual person. I have not left a scientific, creative or humanitarian imprint for the future. Perhaps its the little things we do in our daily lives that really matter.

Sure, I achieved success in college and my career, and even in my hobbies. I had/have artistic talent, but never pursued it. I don't feel these are truly important or gave lasting value to others. They were just important to me at the time and bolstered my own ego. At the moment, the most important thing for me is to grow organic vegetables for my family this summer.......lol.

[jezzie]

Verleen: I think Helen Keller put it quite well:

The world is moved along, not only by the mighty shoves of its heroes,
but also by the aggregate of tiny pushes of each honest worker.

Doris: I hear you on the do over. I think of Stephen Covey:

No man on his death bed ever said "I wish I had spent more time at the office"
My do over would be more family and education time ... and less work time.

Way 2: I am counting my blessings this morning:

My DDIL (Wen) miscarried this past week. I am reminding myself of how much I do have.

Kathy: WTG on the degrees.

Some people are in awe of the rich and famous. My awe has always been for acadamia.
(After the Dalai Lama of course.)