Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom (And Whimsy)

Posted on December 24, 2025 under Wednesday’s Words of Wisdom with no comments yet

 

Stretching the truth

(Pete MacDonald photo)

 

Another year is hurtling towards its conclusion.

What will you remember most about 2025?

If you want to dwell on the negative, then wars and wildfires will likely be near the top of your list.

Way too many deaths for my liking as many leaves have fallen off the Baby Boom tree.

Tariffs, Trump… and many other tragedies.

But, alas, it is Christmas morning and it is not my intention to leave several lumps of coal in your stocking.

My choice is gratitude.

You see, I am told that if there is coal and if it’s put under sufficient pressure, the results could be a sparkling diamond. Pressure is a constant in our lives. How we respond determines whether or not we will sparkle and shine over time or remain a lump of coal, destined for the furnace.

This Christmas will be incredibly difficult for those who have lost loved ones. The lights on the Christmas tree won’t shine as brightly as normal and Christmas dinner will be salted with tears.

As a new year approaches, most of us are taking stock, a personal inventory, as it were. We’ve all undoubtably had hiccups over the past year.

I have been asked numerous times how I broke my arm earlier this year. My cheeky response is that I got caught in a terrible storm while crossing over the Pyrenees from France into Spain. Rain, fog and high winds made the descent treacherous and after being attacked by a herd of mountain goats, I stumbled and fell. That would make a terrific story, but the truth is that I stubbed my toe on a curb in the mall parking lot and landed on the sidewalk. No ice. No snow. Dry pavement.

Eight months later, I’m still rehabbing the arm. I am now absolutely delighted that I can lift my arm high enough to apply anti-perspirant. My friends are absolutely delighted as well!

It is not always possible to take a bad situation and turn it into something positive. However, I am a big believer in re-framing – taking a difficult situation and turning it upside down.

I don’t mean to brag, but this is precisely what I did after breaking my arm. After lying around for two weeks, wallowing in self-pity, I dragged myself off the couch and decided to keep writing my autobiography that I had started during March break. My daughter came over and put several books under my laptop so that I could get my right arm on the keyboard. For the next three months, I hunted and pecked and churned out 115,000 words, many that mercifully ended up in the scrap heap once my editor got her hands on the manuscript.

With each passing year, I realize that I need to pay closer and closer attention to my body. Yes, I am good to walk every day, but my body is telling me that that is not nearly enough. When getting out of bed seems like trying to extricate yourself from quicksand, then it’s time for action.

I’m not one for New Year’s resolutions but I will boldly state mine here.

In order to keep my body from seizing up (my muscles are so tight that I’m finding it hard to tie my boot laces), I need to do A LOT MORE stretching.

I am giving up Chai tea and will take up Tai Chi in the new year!

I am grateful for surviving another year on planet earth.

I’m still standing.

“Don’t you know that I’m still standing better than I ever did,

Looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid,

And I’m still standing after all this time.”

I’m Still Standing – Elton John

Merry Christmas.