This reminds me of a news story in my neck of the woods in the last couple years about a guy who went trick-or-treating for the first time in his early 30s. He actually had lots of fun while going from house to house. I personally don't think there should be an age limit on trick-or-treating, myself. Social norms are bizarre things to try to change, though.
Thanks everyone. My wife appreciates all the cares and comments. Maybe I'll be able to convince her to come hang here with us rather than on Facebook with her mom.
I hear you. Went through my own anniversaries of those lost last month and it knocked me out for two weeks straight before I could get my head around writing again.
Don't let guilt be one of the emotions. We feel what we feel. We remember, usually not when we'd like to, and often times, at the worst possible time.
I filled my time with memories- as many good ones as I could pack into my quiet time. I focused on watching the birds at the feeder outside my office window. Did the bare minimum at work. Tried to enjoy time with friends.
Eventually, it passed.
I've found that sometimes talking to them helps, even though they can't hear. Do the things that give you joy and peace, and most of all, forgive yourself for whatever wasn't done, wasn't said, or conversely, was. Let lavender winds ease your pain and remember, we're all here if you need us.
Life changes, as a child you hold toys in your hands, manipulating them, talking for them, using them to cultivate you growing imagination. Gradually, you no longer need them to create your stories, to have fun playing. Your toys move behind your eyelids in the curtains of your dreams. The stories still flow but life has so much more to interrupt the play.
You read other people's stories, you let them play for you. Your imagination muscles grow weaker. What we all need then is the time and courage to pull out our old toys and remember how to play and imagine. That's why so many people feel drawn to spend so much money and so many resources to obtain the things they played with when they were young. The have felt the atrophy of their imaginations. It is instinctual. The problem is that they put the toys on a shelf and just stare at them occasionally, wondering what isn't working. That isn't what will help. If you are feeling the atrophy play with the toys don't look at them.
For those of us who keep our imaginations in constant use with good muscle tone it must be remembered that it doesn't ruin the exercise routine to ride a bike down a trail for fun once or twice. Swimmers don't lose their stamina by playing Marco Polo instead of swimming laps. Writers can pull out the toy cars and blocks and still write The Great American Novel. Play is good for everyone, and toys can be an essential part of play. Take out your dolls and your wagons. Hop on your bikes and your scooters. Visit the lands of imagination so dimly remembered and play.
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