May I suggest this is the best part of your life?

July 9, 2009 in Uncategorized

Inside you know what's yours to finally say. I suggest to you this is the best part of your life. – Susan Werner

Soon, I will wake up 50.

I'm not focused on 50 because I dread it, no. I'm focused on it because for years I have said to myself, "Self? You will be at your strongest and most potent and most powerful when you are 50."

I will not wake up in Chicago as planned, having eaten an amazing meal at Topolobampo, because I realized in thinking about it that I needed to wake up somewhere with a broad horizon and big sky, surrounded by a small tribe, not by two million people at the Air and Water Show in Chicago.

But I will wake up that morning after having embarked on an extraordinary six week journey from now to then (almost exactly 37 days). Life is all about patterns. Indeed it is. Some serve us, and some don't.

(My thanks to Janet Smith for pointing me to this song, on exactly the right day)

About Patti Digh

Patti Digh is an author, speaker, and educator who builds learning communities and gets to the heart of difficult topics. Her work over the last three decades has focused on diversity, inclusion, social justice, and living and working mindfully. She has developed diversity strategies and educational programming for major nonprofit and corporate organizations and has been a featured speaker at many national and international conferences.

8 comments to " May I suggest this is the best part of your life? "


Lavender Dreams

July 9, 2009 AT 12:49PM

Happy Birthday to YOU! And I must say the 50s have been the BEST for me! I am in my last year of the ’50s so I am wondering what the next decade will hold. I’d like to say again that your book has made SUCH a difference in my life. My grandkids were here for the holiday and we put candles in every muffin, cupcake, etc that we could find. I had them each a cup FULL of candles to enjoy while they were here. I took pics, too! lol Have a wonderful trip and thanks for sharing your life with all of us!

Kim Mailhot

July 9, 2009 AT 1:42PM

May I suggest that you have been at your strongest, your most potent and powerful right from the beginning ? And that maybe now is when you realize that strength, that potency and that power, and own it ?
Just a thought that came as I read this post. Love, love. loved the song. Tears for the beauty of life.
Travel well and play well in your circle, dear Friend.
Love Kim

smallbluebird

July 9, 2009 AT 2:09PM

Oh Patti, the broad horizon and a big sky are exactly what the fifties are like! It all seemed to open up and unfold for me in my fifties and I wish the same for you. Now can you somehow get me a voice like Susan Wener’s?

gwyn

July 9, 2009 AT 3:46PM

Yes! 50 for me is like being reborn. Shedding all the insecurities, and falsehoods of youth to be who I really am! It is a gift! You are wise to alter your plans. Be in the great wide open to celebrate your awesome self!!!

Love ~ Gwyn

janet

July 9, 2009 AT 5:03PM

You are so very welcome –

j.

brenda

July 10, 2009 AT 1:35PM

Thanks for bringing back the memories of the Kerrville Folk Festival to me. I was camping there a few nights of each May during the ’90s when I lived in central Texas. Any other KERRVERTS out there?

Rick

July 11, 2009 AT 6:45AM

Patti, as one who is blazing the trail for you (now five years past the magical 50 mark), I can assure you it is far more than you are capable of imagining, you little 49-year-old whelp, you.

The willingness to accept the wisdom which you have had inside you all these years will be the chief instigator of your amazingly blossoming life. For some reason, it takes 50 years to build the context within which we are able to find our place and come to know what is ours to do in the world, as you have put it.

Mister Earl

July 11, 2009 AT 10:42AM

Patti – This is a wonderful blog. Just found it because the link was posted to the Susan Werner “Believer’s” email list by someone who has been reading your book. If you live in Chicago, Susan might be your neighbor! I’m sure a lot of Susan’s fans will be following you from now on.

We have a strong blogger contingent out here in the San Gabriel Valley of California, and I’m gong to turn them on to you!

Happy Birthday! My “Roger Maris” birthday is coming up at the end of the month!