The pond below the water fall at the Naples Botanical Garden is a mesmerizing place to be. The water has a constant undulating flow, creating abstract reflections. I usually take multiple photos of the water lilies and the flowing water around them and each one is different. Photographing reflections is really fun because I never know what I will get. I’m beginning to feel like life is a lot like the undulating, always changing reflections in the pond.
I really like this image and have been waiting for the perfect opportunity to post it. It seems to represent my feelings about my life, as it undulates and changes. I know who I am and in many ways I am the same person I have always been. But outside forces and the effects of aging seem to be distorting my understanding of who I am. I am feeling changes in my body and in how my brain functions and those changes require that I make changes in how I live my life. As I think about it, I realize that this has been going on since I was born – 73 years ago. Isn’t it amazing how our concept of who we are can subtly change while at the same time we can maintain a consistent sense of self.
Sometimes I wish I could time travel back to an earlier time – to be who I used to be for just a brief time. Maybe who I am now isn’t as close to who I remember being 50 years ago. This isn’t possible, but if I was able to live in my 20 year old body with my 20 year old brain, I think I would find that I like who I am now best because living through so many ripples, so many ups and downs, has given me a wisdom that I didn’t have when I was younger. I also know that I would really enjoy living in my 20 year old body, but not enough to give up what I have gained from living those 50 plus years.
This post was written in response to The Daily Post’s prompt of Undulate.
A New Day: Living Life Almost Gracefully 
Love this! Thanks for sharing!
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Beautiful image, Pat. I too love to try and capture reflections and shadows.
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Brilliant!
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Pat, I have so much to tell my younger self. I wonder whether he could actually listen.
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The only way to know is to look at him eye ball to eye ball and ask. You might start by saying you are sorry he had to endure so much. I bet he is waiting to hear from you. I have a post bouncing around in my brain about my ancestors wishing me into being. I feel the sting of tears as I think about the road both of us are cautiously approaching.
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For readers – Michael and I are having a conversation that is bridging several posts – both his and mine. That is why this interchange has nothing to do with this post.
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So So lovely!
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Gorgeous!
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Thanks, Dawn.
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I love the ripples in the photo and the reflections – Both good metaphors for life. I, too, am 73 and really liking the age I’m at. I’m more calm now and more accepting. I can pursue interests and not feel like I’m shortchanging family. Age has its benefits. Happy 2018 Pat!
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Thanks, Barb. Yes, and I work at remembering the benefits whenever I become nostalgic for the past. Happy (and healthy) 2018 to you to.
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Apt description of mind/body undulations! As I age, it gets confusing at times who I am.
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LOL – sounds funny when you say it, Lois. But I know exactly what you mean. They didn’t teach us about this aspect of aging when we were in university. I would like to write a book about the real experience of aging but I think it would read like science fiction or I would be taken for psychiatric evaluation. I think we should keep this among ourselves. 🙂
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Very, very nice!
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Thanks, Julie. I am looking forward to getting to the garden again.
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Enjoyed you response to the prompt and share those feelings about going back in time.
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Just like I believe I am the same person I always was, I also project that my thinking has always been like it is now. Hummm
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