Nana Needs Happy Hour

Last week I spent some time with a friend catching up. We’ve discovered a little pub that may be unintentionally catering to seniors with their Happy Hour menu. It’s great to be surrounded by all that white hair and imagine the stories being shared around the tables — after the mandatory health updates have been made.

We talked about everything from world events to family matters. We talked about some of the challenges we are facing or witnessing in our own circles. And we talked about our fears for the future. That is a topic I encounter in many conversations these days. It doesn’t matter how old you are; I think we are all living with a realistic understanding that we are in a bit of a mess. It comes up frequently in gatherings.

One of the words that we circled back to a few times in our conversation was courage. It’s a word that has caught my attention recently. I find myself underlining it in books that I read.

I am in a group that is meeting to discuss The Feminine Face of God: The Unfolding of the Sacred in Women. I read the book years ago; it was published in 1991, but I was a different woman then. I am now reading it with fresh eyes.

This week I read this quote in a chapter that talked about spiritual practices:

“I’m sure having a practice helps. And so does an environment like this one that reflects your inner self. And having understanding friends with whom you can be fully yourself. But ultimately, I think you need to have the courage to follow what unfolds from within and leads you.”

I’ve been thinking about the courage we need to face the challenges as we age. You may have heard the expression, ‘getting older isn’t for the faint of heart.’ We find ourselves needing to dig deep some days.

Another place I’m noticing courage showing up is in discernment. I’m developing a workshop called How Do I Know. I’ve been thinking about how often we think we are stuck or not clear on what to do next, but the truth is we are afraid and need the courage to take the next step.

I know many of you are in challenging places right now. It takes courage to keep going and to have hope. If you can muster it, call a friend and get together. As I have discovered, Nana needs Happy Hour.