Under Construction - MHWA Retreat

Spirituality and religion: At this point in my life is extremely important. I wasn't always this important; it begin increasing in importance when I declared my belief in Baha'u'llah in the late 1990s. It has do. When I signed my declaration card, I begin saying the Baha'i prayers and reading the scriptures revealed by Baha'u'lllah, the Bab, and 'Abdu'l-Baha. When my Mother died in 2012, spirituality and religion became more important. Today, February 1, I enrolled in a free online course to study the Kitab-i-Iqan: The Book of Certitude revealed by Baha'u'llah.

Education, training, and knowledge: This is right up there with spirituality, especially if I can get free or moderately priced online courses that interest me and encourage my creative juice to flow. I'm going to place this at an 8 or 9, because I'm taking one online course, which I mentioned in Spirituality.

Work/Career: Is probably a 7. I am officially retired and on Social Security. I do write and some of the surveys bring in a little money. I'm working on expanding my writing and submitting poems to off site journals.

Friends and social life: Is a 6 going on a 7. My social life, at this point, consists in attending Devotional Services, going to the hair dresser once a month or so, doctor's appointments,

Self care (exercise, diet, relaxation, and so on): Is moderately important, so it is a 5. I have begun daily walking exercises. Right now I'm doing them in the afternoon. This will change when spring rolls around and the temperatures begin to rise. I will have to walk either in the morning or the evening when it is cooler.

Citizenship and community life: Is moderately important, so it is a definite 4. The voting aspect is the most important right now. Since I am over 70, I can get a mail/absentee ballot sent to me. In this respect, it is easier to vote now than when I was younger, and had to find my way to my polling place.

Recreation, hobbies, and fun: This is a 3, and it could raise to a 4. The important things here are reading, taking a walk, and doing online surveys. Sometimes I skip the online surveys because of frustration at not qualifying. I always go back after a day or two, so 3 is a good number here.

Family (other than romantic relationships or parenting): This is probably a 2, at least for now. I love my family! The problem, at this point, is lack of communication and the inability to discuss issues that have impacted this relationship. A couple of my siblings I am in contact with once a month, if I call them. The others, I worry about if they don't post on Facebook, at least, once a month.

Parenting: I'm placing this at a 1, for the present. Is not all that important, at 72 I'm past the age of giving birth. And, if by some miracle of science I could, I'm sure I wouldn't want to. At this point in my life, the only "parenting" related thing I would want is to meet the daughter I gave up for adaption, which I'm not sure will every happen in the near future.

Romantic relationships (marriage, life partners, dating and so on): This is not important, I don't have any romantic interest, and I don't want any at this point. I would not refuse a free dinner or movie from a reasonably physically fit senior gentleman. I have managed to let go of some of my past bad relationships, and, this February, written a non-bitter romantic poem: "Soulmates" .