This song came on yesterday, while I was taking a walk on the last day of my long weekend:
(“At Last You’re Here” by Pat Metheny also lasts here on YouTube.)
That’s not the last time, I’m sure, that a song will — synchronistically and coincidentally — match my mood and circumstance. When I heard “At Last You’re Here” yesterday, I smiled; I had just found something I’d been awaiting, for several weeks. At last, it was here.
The details of what I was waiting for are not important. Based on my experience for the last 61 years, that won’t be the last time I wait for something to arrive.
For example, as I’m writing this, I wish and hope to say “At Last You’re Here” to:
- peace of mind
- acceptance,
- confidence,
- awareness,
- clarity,
- faith in myself and others, and
- the “right” answer to difficult questions.
At last, this realization is here:
In life, there will be downs and ups, bad luck and good luck, disappointments and blessings.
In therapy — at the beginning, at last, or at some other point — people bring up two recurring images/metaphors. To describe personal ups and down, we use this mathematical wave
and/or
… the roller coaster.*
At last, are you ever there?
At last, I’d like to tell you this, as clearly as I can:
I (and most human beings I’ve met) are on guard for the next wave of downs/the negative, as a way to self-protect. At last, that does not help. Instead, that extends the life of the negative by anticipating it, focusing on it, and resisting letting it go.
Instead, I believe I shall last longer, healthier, and happier, if I anticipate the positive or (at least) give the positive the same space and time as the negative takes up in my heart, soul, and mind.
In other words, when
- fear
- hopelessness,
- confusion,
- pain,
- isolation
at last appear again, I must remember I’ll eventually be saying “at last, you’re here” to
- relief,
- hope,
- understanding,
- lessening of pain, and
- connection.
At last, does this all make sense? Let me know, in the comments appearing at last, below.
Here’s another song — At Last! — I’d like to share;
(“At Last” sung by Etta James lasts here on YouTube.)
At last, here are some photos I took yesterday during my walk and my visit with my beloved ex-sister-in-law, Deborah:
At last, Penny the Pen is brave enough to see with both eyes again. Will that last? What do you think?
Many thanks to Pat Metheny, to sine waves and roller coasters, to Etta James, to Deborah and her husband Joe (who restored Penny’s eye, in a twinkling), to all those who have ups and down, and — at last but not least — to you for being here, at last.
* At last you’re here in the footnote section, so I can tell you I found that image of the roller coaster here. At last I’ll tell you that if you don’t like roller coasters, try this: imagine yourself standing solidly on the ground, observing — in safety — the ups and downs of the roller coaster of life. At last: if you try that, let me know if it helps and if it lasts.
At last … I see that you are always here! It takes a moment to pause and discover your middle ground in the highs and lows of life 😉
Scary lobster light though!!
Don’t be scared, Val. That’s not a light. It’s a way to hang laundry, I think. Thanks for taking moments to pause here today. I’m glad you’re here!
Roller coaster for me for most of my adult life, not sine waves. But in the last year or so, at last, it is more like wine waves.
And now that it is at last like sine waves, I find I don’t anticipate. I project good and bad less and less. I anticipate newness and wonder. And I have (at last) enough experience to know some of that newness will be good and some won’t. But I also know I will be fine. At last, such a simple wonderful knowledge!
Thanks for all that wisdom, Emilie — from the beginning of your comment through to the last of it. I’m glad you’re here.
Ann, that is such a beautiful song, thanks for sharing it, at last.
Thanks for this beautiful comment, Maria. As always, I’m glad you’re here.
Great post Ann, sometimes we need to wait and be ready and prepared, before we receive what we have wished for for a long time.
Great photos as usual, you are great to catch the details.
At last, I get to see you here, Irene! I’ve been wondering about you and I’ve been missing your great comments. Thanks for granting my wish!
You are welcome Ann 😉
Now that is a rollercoaster!!
Yes, it is, Alex. I hope your life doesn’t feel that way too often! And, I saved this for last: You’re here. Yay!
Awww, thanks 🙂
Ann,
Life offers no guarentees other than a roller-coaster ride. It has its frightening dives and drops but, also its secure and calming climbs and rises. It is a wild balance. At the end of the ride we can evaluate ourselves in how well we endured the test.
For those who choose to stand below and watch, not much is gained by a life not lived out of fear.
-Alan
I agree, Alan. I’m so glad you’re here!
I understand, Ann, how you have turned a down into the anticipation of the up to come. At last you have the rollercoaster car in front of you instead of down the road apiece. Team Ann is climbing aboard the cars behind you. I’m ready for the ride up, up, up. All ups after every down, Ann, and how we’ll lean right into the twists and turns.
At last (and as always), Mark, you give me a gift that straightens it all out for me.
A beautiful post that holds a lot of meaning for me. And it’s full of good sines, too. 🙂
It’s always, at last, a good sine when you stop by. Many thanks, Maureen.
I, too, spend too much time getting ready for the things that might go wrong. I prepare long often negative conversations in my head – I’m never actually going to need these, so they really waste time that could be happier. I am learning, through meditation, to laugh whenever I catch myself doing this. Love the pavement pictures, Dig Safe, indeed.
At last you’re here, Hilary. I love this insightful comment, and the thought of you laughing when you catch yourself with those negative conversations.