Letters to the editor

Letter to the Editor: Was this a good day?

What are we here for? What is life all about? I may not have the answers to those deep questions but I've figured out what my life is about. Even though I enjoy time to myself to sew and make things I really enjoy doing things with other people. My husband and I still like to dance. We don't have the energy we used to yet the dance floor and the music still call us to get out there. Usually in the evenings we watch TV or movies. Grandchildren come over to play. Friends come to make greeting cards or play games. A lot of people speak to me by name almost everywhere I go. I have to confess; I recognize their faces but am bad about remembering their names. There are simply so many nice people around here that I have accumulated a long list of friends. There are some who are closer to my heart which I call my best friends.

I hadn't written anything for you with substance for a while. That plus some other things made me wonder what I am here for. One day goes into the next without much meaning. Sometimes I can't decide what I want to do with my day. Yet I wake up each morning with my lists of: like to do, should do, and need to do.

My main physical therapist is a nice young woman so I shared copies of my letters to the editor with her. On the next therapy day she asked me, "How did you get so wise." That made me feel a little better. Then while at the doctor's office after saying my name at the window a woman asked me if I was the one who wrote articles in the newspaper. I replied yes. Then she proceeded to tell me how much she enjoyed them. Wow, someone I had never met remembered my name and things I had to say. So just maybe I was meant to share with you. I was feeling embarrassed after I spoke up in church recently. I was afraid what I said could have been worded better. My pastor told me not to apologize, that it was fine. The same day the woman spoke to me at the doctor's office I went to Joann Fabrics. There a woman asked if I went to the church I'm attending. I replied yes. She said, "Good job." I told her I thought I should have said it differently. She said that it was just right.

Last week a friend told me she always feels better after she visits with me. Seems I always know when to call her because she needs to talk. Another friend called to talk about a loved one of hers who had recently passed away. She knew if I had the time I would listen to her so she didn't have to be alone with her sorrow. Maybe my purpose in life is to share what I believe and what I think to help others feel better about themselves, give them something to think about, or just entertain them.

I've made plenty of mistakes in my life. Who hasn't? Even the little things, like being cranky when I don't feel good can make me wonder if the day was a success. Days I question whether my day was worth it my husband comes to support me. He says so you didn't get the laundry done, or didn't clean up the kitchen. What does it matter? Did you enjoy your day? He asks me things he knows I will answer with a yes. Then we agree it was a good day.

I hope you have someone in your life who is there for you when you begin to question life. If not, perhaps my letters can help you stop and think: Was this a good day? So we don't understand what life means, so what? Live each day with the attitude that you are here for a reason. We don't need to answer the big questions in life. Enjoy each day by being the best person you can be. We aren't expected to be perfect. What is in our hearts is what counts.

Bonnie Eaton

Vienna