Chapters of Your Life

"Rock star" status...ready to perform.

When you are young, the world is an open book.  Well, maybe not open…you have to be the one to do the opening and write your own chapters.  When I graduated from high school, my book was blank.  No chapters, no beginning or end.  Or so I thought. 

If we really think and start to analyze our book, complete with chapters, it begins at birth.  My parents are the ones who could really live the early chapters of my life.  Although I do not remember the so called early chapters, I do know I had to wear braces on my legs.  My mom has said many times she had felt bad because while I was in my crib, she could hear the “click, click” of me kicking my legs.  Other chapters were me falling out of the shopping cart, head first and thankfully all bundled up and no harm done.  Or falling the down the stairs when I was little.  The best chapters growing up?  Spending time with the family.

What has me thinking of the chapters of my life is taking a trip to Chicago.  Chapter 18 of my book is when I began to work downtown.  As I got off the train and exited onto the street, it was like time had stood still.  My pace was as if I was 18 again, and I got right into step moving around the city.  I made many great friends while working downtown.  Unfortunately, I do not see these people anymore but there are many chapters of my life that I shared with them.  Chapter 18 through 26 to be exact.  They were there for my “rock star” years, along with the birth of my son, Shaun.  I was also there for chapters of their lives.  Weddings, births, and Monday night bowling.  All I have to say is, the bowling alley was never the same after our butts left.  Thank goodness for Facebook.  At least we are in contact this way.

As I wandered the streets of Chicago and eventually made it to Columbia College, it touched me to see all these young people continuing the chapters of their lives.  Such talent.  All the music that was played around the campus was by students of Columbia College.  Amazing.  I have to admit, I envy them.  I always wanted to sing, act, or teach, but my book took me on an entirely different route.

I am not happy with the current chapter in my book.  However, since I am the writer of my story I am the only one who can do the revisions.  When I was young, it was easy to do the revisions.  I revised where I had to, and then went on from there.  During these chapters, there was also no responsibility.  Since I am older, some part of me has stopped these revisions.  It appears I am pouring myself into other books.  Maybe I am scared to revise, or maybe I am too old to. No, you are never too old to revise so I will go with the scared revision.

I will continue on with my chapters since my book is not complete.  Maybe I can get over the scared feelings of making revisions.  Your revisions are only complete when you re-enter the earth or when your ashes are scattered. How are the chapters in your book?  Should you, too, make revisions?