Do, love, and look forward

My best friend recently passed this saying on to me: she said, “We all need something to do, someone to love, and something to look forward to.” So I started reflecting on how those things manifest in my life. I've shared them below, but I'd love to hear from you in the comments and find out what you do, whom you love, and what you look forward to!

Something to do
I thrive on work that satisfies, work that brings joy. This doesn’t just mean paid work. I spent Monday in my garden -- spreading compost, replacing mulch, weeding, reflecting, and having a lovely glass of Pinot Gris on my deck as the sun set. My muscles had that satisfied feeling of being used, my nails were full of dirt, and native birds were pecking away at newly exposed bugs. I found myself tired and smiling.  Happily I came inside to prepare vegetables for my family’s dinner.

Meaningful work is a blessing!  Winston Churchill once said, "Blessed are those whose work is their hobby, and whose hobby is their work." The work I have done on climate change and children in the environment has been the most spiritually and intellectually rewarding work I have done for years. How great when our work and our search for meaning collide!

Someone to love
For many people, this will seem self explanatory. It seems we all have someone to love: our families, our friends. 

Sadly, this actually isn’t true for all of us. Some of us have grown up in families where love is a complicated thing, mixed with violence or drugs or other abandonments. I have to say the very first time I truly fell in love was the moment I held my first child in my arms and looked into his beautiful eyes. At that moment I was flooded with a strength of feeling I had never had before. It's his birthday this week, and I am grateful for his being in my life.

Since that time, love has opened in my life in many ways. Love expands; the more we practice it, the more we experience it.

Love takes time; children need time.  Make time to love the people around you.

Something to look forward to
I look forward to us solving the climate crisis. This morning, my 9 year-old asked me about CFCs and the hole in the ozone layer. I explained to her how the banning of CFCs gave me hope. We've solved environmental issues at a global level before. If countries can get together on CFCs, surely we can get together on carbon? 

I look forward to teaching my grandchildren (not yet on the horizon) to snorkel, and to showing them the beauty of this wonderful world we live in.

I also look forward to hearing from you:

What do you do that creates meaning and purpose for you?

Who do you love?

What do you look forward to?