Everyday Canvas

Summer 2023 and Our Residues

Prompt: Summer 2023
Now that 2023 Summer is ending, please, think back on it. What was your favorite part? What is your favorite memory? And for whatever reason, this summer, what did you miss doing that you had planned or wanted to do?

---------------

This summer is ending with a mixture of relief and resignation for me. I am looking forward, truthfully, to cooler temperatures, which are almost never cool where I live, but only livable. Summers are a challenge for the heat and the scorching sun, but then come September and fall, we are faced with the threat of hurricanes.

My favorite part of this summer was staying inside the house and reading more, and also, staying in touch with family and friends. The highlight of that, during early August, the daughter of a very old friend (RIP) got in touch with me and, although I had never met the daughter, we connected through my memories of her mother.

I almost never plan ahead for anything, except for daily to-do lists, and this goes for my summers or any part of the year. Yet, this year, the summer's end has brought some relief and some nostalgia, such as the memories of icy roads and the falling snow that left behind a mosaic of sensations about the time when I lived in New York.


*************************


Prompt: "Memories of our lives, of our works and deeds will continue with others." Rosa Parks. Write about this quote in your Blog entry today.


-------------

This quote suggests that our lives are not isolated blips in time, but rather threads in a tapestry that continues to be woven long after we're gone. Do I believe it? I doubt it. To me, this world is fleeting and ephemeral and no one imprint any one person can leave behind will last an eon with that person's name etched on it.

On the other hand, our works and deeds, however grand or modest, have the power to add to the collective memory of humankind. It is for our own benefit and for the benefit of the time and place we live in that we need to live a life of purpose, to lead meaningful lives authentically, to contribute positively, and hopefully, act in a way that enriches the lives of others, at least in our present time.

Our acts need not be only our professional achievements but also the small kindnesses, the words of encouragement, and the moments of selflessness. These may be a kind word spoken in a difficult moment, a mentorship that can be a guide for someone's path, or a piece of art that can inspire positive emotions. It is this thread of actions that will transcend the limits of our mortality and will add to the greater whole.


.