To make anything of beauty, it takes time, effort, and work. When I was much younger, it was harder to see how interconnected life really was and derive all of what that meant. Somehow, individualism and independence caused me to shy away or misunderstand that every facet or thread in the weave of life matters. What I didn’t know is that it takes a whole lifetime for a tapestry of beauty to unfold where life is concerned. But I know now. “We don’t accomplish anything in this world alone… and whatever happens is the result of the whole tapestry of one’s life and all the weavings of individual threads from one to another that create something.” ~ Sandra Day O’Connor
As I began the journey, there was a young “self” that didn’t know better and didn’t have life experience – the one that made all the mistakes. I didn’t know how to have boundaries around my time, space, and person. I didn’t know how to say “no” for fear of offending others, and I didn’t know how to love and take care of myself. It was easier for me to take care of others and neglect my own needs. I’m learning to forgive and befriend that self.
“Healthy boundaries are not walls. They are gates and fences that allow you to enjoy the beauty of your own garden.” ~ Lydia Hall
There’s a “better self” that has emerged – one with experience and a little bit of wisdom and understanding of the journey. That better self knows that self-love and self-care are important. It’s weaving those threads into the fabric of this “better” tapestry. It has learned that a selfish, hedonistic existence, is no life at all. It knows that when mistakes are made, it is wise to take the learning and move on. It understands that there are life lessons that come out of every experience and that those lessons continue until the end of the journey.
“As I look back at the entire tapestry of my life, I can see from the perspective of the present moment that every aspect of my life was necessary and perfect. Each step eventually led to a higher place, even though these steps often felt like obstacles or painful experiences.” — Wayne Dyer
The “best self” is struggling to emerge and grow. It has to be gentle with itself and use all the learning, tools, and available resources, for that beautiful design to show through. Like everyone else, I don’t want to come to the end of my life and feel that I hadn’t learned anything or changed in any way. Even if it’s just a small difference, we all want to feel that our being here brought some good – that our own individual tapestry is beautiful and that we’ve added some beauty to the Universal tapestry as well.
“The tapestry of life continues to be woven. Occasionally a chance arises to repair an older, tattered piece of the weave. Something happens to jolt our awareness back in time to an event that resulted in tears and rips. With new, more mature vision, we see the circumstances in present time and have compassion for the unclear events of the past. While the new experience is being woven into the design, the old rip is simultaneously being repaired. All is well. ~ Bessie Senette
As a woman in my seventies, I have to say that I’m grateful for all the experiences and learning in my life thus far. There’s a coming to terms with life that one must do as one ages. Like so many other lives, my own is not perfect. It would have been good if I had known certain things that I know now when I was younger. My tapestry would have been woven more easily and been beautiful earlier. This is not the way life works though.
One thing I do know is that even when there are ups and downs, achy muscles and painful knees, and days when low energy and weakness is felt, each day is a chance to learn and grow in some way. Attitudes, ideas and choices matter. It’s the willingness to learn new things and expand my horizons that opens up new possibilities and experiences. The tapestry of my life is an ongoing work. It’s not easy because it requires time, patience, and commitment.
I was just reading today that when Michelangelo was commissioned by the Medicis to create a statue for the main square in Florence, it took him two years to find a slab of marble from which he would carve his masterpiece. It also took him two years of work to create the rough outline of the statue and an additional two years were spent polishing and sanding before the work was complete. That was just for a statue. Creating a beautiful life must surely be worth all the work and the effort.
“As we weave the tapestries of our lives, we gradually begin to see our designs from a wider angle of years. We may or may not be pleased with what we see. Yet, no design–not in the living world–is carved in stone. We have the gift of free will to change our designs as we wish. We are each a thread in the tapestry of our human family. Our outcome is woven of endless possibilities, because we can choose from a universe of endless possibilities. Every person can make a difference. Each thread is a possibility, chosen by the design of divine imagination. Our life-time designs arise from our divine gifts, unique talents, desires, thoughts, choices, and actions. At times, old choices–old threads–wear out. We see the past while we live in the present, and we can replace the old…with new ideas, new choices, and new actions. We can view the future through today’s eyes, and time blends all experiences, dark and light, into an awareness of authentic joy. May you live joyfully and abundantly today and throughout every season of life! ” -Steve Brunkhorst
“Time unfolds beauty, wonder, and mystery to reveal the auspicious tapestry of life.” ~
“Late Blooms: Inspiration for Seniors” and “Making New Friends” are available on Amazon.
https://www.amazon.com/author/jeansamaroo