Rathbone - Women of a Certain Age
Interestingly as I age, something that I had never thought of before is happening. I am getting older, and apparently some people think wiser. Recently I have on several occasions had younger women come to me, close the door, pull up a chair and then appeal for help in some area of their lives. I am a youth counselor so yes, I am a good listener but this falls into a different category. I am flattered by it and I take it very seriously. I want to give sound advice. And do I feel capable? Yes, I believe I do.
At the same time, it addresses something deep inside me. I too am looking for guidance. Where are my mentors in life? There are so very, very few voices I would listen to; so very few people I think actually have a clue as to what life is really about and would give me sound advice. Sadly, my mother is not one of those voices. I would that she were but that is not our relationship.
Recently I have "met" complete strangers whose thoughts I agree with. Strange isn't it that "online friends" could be more reliable than those we know in real life? And yet I find their voices sound and valid.
I picture the hard times of life as a body of water that must be waded through. And in my mind's eye, I see a line of women wading deeper and deeper into water, and I like the thought that just ahead of me is another woman, and she turns and sees that I am losing my footing, and she casts out a line of rope to me. I catch it and feel her strength at the other end of the rope, stabilizing me. I know that everything will be all right. I find my footing, I continue forward.
Sometimes, the words that you send out to me over the internet, the words that take visible form on the screen in front of me are just that lifeline to help me find my footing. So thank you. Nice to know you are there.