16 Comments

Mandy -- thank you so much for sharing this. Unfortunately, we all must live/learn our own lessons in our own time. The gorgeous and inspirational wise owl photo is an image I will be carrying around for awhile. Best to you on your break!

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Thank you so much! And how true that we must first feel the cut of the sword to know it’s true damage.

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Mandy, thank you for another thoughtful essay. I agree that older is wiser. One of the advantages of living alone (with my dog) is the quietude and ability to hear myself think. Have a wonderful December and Happy Christmas. Looking forward to reading your words of wisdom in the New Year.

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Dear Sharon: thanks for this kind note and yes, living alone has its advantages! Happy holidays to you and yours.

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Wow, I so relate to this, and yes, thank goodness I never have to go through that again. It's almost like one needs to go through this as passage for maturing. I cant' say I was a quick study. I had a broken picker until I met my husband, and honestly he chose me, thank goodness.

Great read, I hope you have a wonderful December, enjoy your time off!! xx

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Thank you, dear Patti. And aren’t you lucky hubby found you?!

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Yes, I am!

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I find your points very interesting, enlightening and helpful! What a helpful author you are to me. Thank you!🙏🏻

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Thank you and I find your kindness very touching.

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Hi Mandy,

I hope you enjoy your time off and find new inspiration. I resonated well with your story. And I agree, aging has its pluses. There is so much hype out there about living alone and fear. It can be more peaceful for most of us living a single life. Relationships require work and sacrafices. And true, anything worth having needs to be earned. I feel sorry for Sophia, but hopefully she won't waste too much of her life with a false relationship. But you probably will not get through to her, this is something she has to learn by trial and error.

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Thank you Carol, and yes, we learn from experience. And when we have learned, It is so liberating!

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Where did you find the photo of the gorgeous owl?

If only we knew then what we know now!

It is freeing not to sweat the small stuff the way we used to.

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Oh boy, is it ever! No more crying into our soup!

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Yes to this! Aging, like just about everything else in life, benefits from a focus on the positive. Thanks for sharing.

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+1. You couldn’t pay me enough to be in my 20s again.

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Me neither!

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