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“A river cuts through rock, not because of its power, but because of its persistence.”
– James N. Watkins, Author
I’m edging closer to the countdown before turning 60 on September 1, reflecting on what got me to here. So far there have been five phases to my life, and if I were to break them down by age, by way of commentary shared by outside spectators with a snarky wit like mine, I imagine their observations would go something like this:
One of my favorite movies is 1992’s A River Runs Through It, based on the book, A River Runs Through It and Other Stories, written by Norman Maclean and published in 1976. The movie is a favorite of mine for its 1920s/30s charm, Brad Pitt’s acting, and Maclean’s whimsical writing style.
In the opening scene, Robert Redford narrates Maclean’s interpretation of life’s resilience, patience, determination, and persistence through the metaphor of a river flowing through rock. The premise of a rock being shaped by the waters of time and suggesting that we as humans are molded by the forces of time, life, and nature is brilliant.
Call me bold or unfiltered or post-menopausal, but I’m not driven by fear and paranoia like I was in years past. I don’t even dread turning 60 just five months from now, because I’ve finally learned to apply all the wisdom I gained and laugh about the silly events I’ve either witnessed or created, brushing off traumatizing events that originally sent me into orbit.
Perhaps Steve Martin, the American comedian and actor, said it best:
“As you age, you become either your worst self or your best self.”
To a peaceful existence,
