You and I are on a journey, Dear Reader. We’re looking for meaning, for purpose, looking for a place to belong in our brief time on this planet. We look for connection with other humans, animals, nature in all its forms, and God. Yes, God, a power greater than ourselves. A God of your understanding, not mine. I’m no preacher.

As you and I trudge this rocky road of joy, we experience suffering. We feel discontent, pain, fear, anxiety, worry, grief because our lives are constantly changing and we know we will die. Isn’t that the First Noble Truth?
Life is suffering.

Yet we enjoy those ineffable feelings of awe and grace and love and reverence. I sit on my porch drinking coffee with my husband watching the sun rise. We look at the trees, living breathing sculptures. Their limbs twist and turn reaching towards the sun, bending in the breeze. They show their knots, bumps, and scaly texture. They host glistening leaves and showy flowers, and in winter they are silhouetted like Sumi-e drawings.
In the Spring, I stop on my way to the courtroom and look in the eaves of the historic courthouse for the swallow’s clever mud nest, and I am always delighted.
I’ve sat on the dock of the Laguna Madre Bay and watched with ineffable joy my beloved dolphins swim by without a thought of me. I’ve kayaked the Brazos River in the warm summer sunlight with my husband and friends. We point out the huge turtles sunning themselves on logs and the waterfowl gliding past us and the snake crossing the river to reach the far bank.

You and I take joy in the journey, the discovery, the learning, and teachers are everywhere. Authors, playwrights, artists, musicians, historians, counselors, AA sponsors, environmentalists, stand-up comedians, the Starbucks barista, the Walmart cashier, the phlebotomist at my clinic. Even an angry, hateful person offers the opportunity for learning. Anyone can step into my life and leave something behind, a moment of clarity.

When I was ready, the universe provided a teacher to help me discover my six core values. I was 60 years old. It changed my life. It changed how I looked at other people. 60 years old. Moments of clarity can be humbling. My values are purpose, balance, sanity, kindness, gratitude and hope. And yes, we will be talking much more about those.

Why should you listen to me? I’ve no idea, but you’ve made it this far so we may just be kindred spirits. Perhaps the universe led you here to find the answer to your question, or to make me a better human. My experience of existential joy is sharing my journey, strength and hope with you.

We can let go of regret, self-pity, resentments, fear, control and outcomes. You and I can live in gratitude. We can experience moments of Fulfillment. Contentment. Serenity. If we allow it. Let me say that again, if we allow it. We can practice the serenity prayer. We can live the four agreements. I practice breathing deeply, smiling, accepting, meditating, journaling, living my life in the now, and occasionally, walking my dogs.