Thankful

If two constitutes a theme, then I am following a bit of a theme right now.  It is basically moving on.  I blame what I am reading.  I am not seeking stuff out, but it seems whatever I pick up says it.  For example, “old things are gone,” and another book started with “As we look at…what has happened in the past…”  I guess that is to be expected with it being a new year and all.
What has struck me this morning, is how there is much in my past I do not want to forget.  In fact, a good bit of my life has been filled with good stuff.  Ok so a lot is just everyday stuff.  It really is not good or bad.  It just is.  Washing up, cleaning the home, travel, mowing the lawn.  I sorta don’t go “you beauty, I get a chance to mow the lawn – how lucky am I?”  In fact, I do not ever remember saying that.
In hindsight I should be thankful that I could mow the lawn.  Having said that, it would never make my top ten list of things to do.  There is so much I have taken for granted.  The day comes (and yikes, it is here) when what could once be done, can be done no longer. 
It is funny how when growing up it is not even considered, then it is here.  I could ask myself “why wasn’t I told?” But a better question might be “why didn’t I listen?”  It is important to me, that I not only remember the good stuff, but am also grateful for it. 
Having a roof over my head is good stuff, but I do think home building could be improved upon.  It is a best-case scenario that I grow old.  I reckon showers should be built without lips.  Lifting feet and accessing can be a real issue.    My thinking is, make it right for as many as possible.  That includes young and old, abled and disabled.  Hindsight is a great teacher.
Processing what has happened is a real process.    Having the stroke was hard.  Losing mum and dad was hard.  Saying goodbye to the town I lived in was hard.  To have something good, and then be without it, causes an inevitable sense of loss and hardship.  No wonder the song says, “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”  It takes getting over.  But time always moves on and so do I.  For sure I mourn the loss of abilities I had, but I remember having them and am grateful.
Besides, the past is not the end of my story unless that is what I choose.   I remember a guy telling me all excitedly about something that happened long ago.  That is great, and I am interested, but my interest wanes if it is like the last good thing that has happened.  I am interested in stuff that happened long ago, and stuff that happened yesterday.
I have come across those for whom it seems like the best days are over.  They spend their time reliving old memories, rather than making new ones.  I need to constantly be on my guard that that does not become me.  There is no doubt my past contained good things.  I remember them and am grateful.
But for me the past is past.  If I do “now” right, then my future will contain more good memories.