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January 8, 2021

Layers Upon Layers

8 Comments/ 119/ 0

One of my friends was having a bad day a while ago and wrote on her Facebook status that she needed a “do over”. Later in the day I was at a retail store and the cashier was having a bad day and we laughed about how sometimes we just needed a “reboot” on the day. I took it a bit farther and said there were times I just wanted a “reboot” on my body as well as my day!

So it got me to thinking. About do overs and reboots and starting over. How many hours have I wasted on worrying about what I did or didn’t do? How many hours have I whiled away wishing something had turned out differently? How many hours have I spent thinking about how a different scenario would have played out if I had just changed one little thing about my day? How many hours have I spent thinking and wishing I had said something differently? Or maybe wishing I had just said something? If I added all these up it would most likely be an astronomical number that I could not comprehend.

I don’t have the magical reboot button but I do have control over how much time I invest in regretting decisions. What is done is done. My brother in law, Carlton, had a hard time talking about the past when it involved difficult things. I don’t think that this is unique to folks with Down Syndrome—I think it is difficult for all of us to confront difficult times in our past. Carlton always said “the past is in the past” and would not discuss it. I tried time and time again to have the discussion with him that the past is what helps create who we are today and that we build on the past but that was lost on him. He just wanted to forget it. I understand that to some degree.

I also understand that I am who I am today because of choices and decisions and paths that I chose over the years. I am like an archaeological dig—-the many layers of me are based on my experiences. When I think about that reboot button now I think that I would not want that because it would erase some of my layers. And in my case—layers are good. They are part of me. There is the layer of innocence, the layer of discovery, the layer of excitement, the layer of insecurity, the layer upon layer of love and compassion, the layer of sadness and grief, the layer of joyfulness and the layer of satisfaction. Today I am embracing my layers and invite you to embrace yours, too.

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8 Comments

Leave a comment
  1. Darlene
    January 08, 2021 at 06:11 am

    Such a good post and needed today. Thanks.

    Reply
  2. susi_snaps
    January 08, 2021 at 07:25 am

    That’s such a good way of putting it. We are all made up of many layers and they all add up to what makes us who we are. I think it’s what makes us human.

    Reply
    1. jena c. henry
      January 08, 2021 at 07:57 am

      Beth Ann- your posts are “must reads” for me. Excellent post today. Interestingly, I don’t spend much tine looking back- I spend my “worry time” looking forward. I’m always planning, making lists, thinking of new ideas…

      Reply
      1. Beth Ann Chiles
        January 08, 2021 at 07:57 am

        Aw— thanks so much. That means a lot to me. I agree— looking forward is so much better!

        Reply
  3. Mama's Empty Nest
    January 08, 2021 at 08:54 am

    How very true, Beth Ann! Thank you for sharing these wise words with us today. I’ve always believe we must look to the future, but not forget the past because we don’t want to repeat the same mistakes.

    Reply
  4. Minnesota Prairie Roots
    January 08, 2021 at 11:46 am

    This is such a thought-provoking, in a good way, post. I agree we are each comprised of many layers. Age layers upon youth. Wisdom layers upon thinking we know everything but don’t. Our past shapes us every day. I agree with Carlton that sometimes you just want to forget the past, though.

    Reply
  5. Shirley Matthews Dunn
    January 08, 2021 at 11:58 am

    Beth Ann, I so agree with you. Our layers are important to making us who we are. I do like the ideal of rebooting our self’s . Someday I think that is greatly need somedays. Have a good weekend.

    Reply
  6. Judy
    January 08, 2021 at 12:29 pm

    Thank you for sharing your wisdom today.

    Reply

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Beth's bookshelf: read

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