"Be what you loved most about the people who are gone."

Today began with a conversation with my dear friend and  kindred spirit, Chris, who lives in Kerrville.  We met many years ago at a Story Circle writing conference and I thought, wisely, "I want her to be my friend!"

Her husband of many happy years, Ron, died this year, and she says she is choosing life and joy every day.  Ron, a man known for his love of life, would have wanted that.

She gave me this quotation taped on her refrigerator: "Be what you loved most about the people who are gone."

I thought about my daddy, of course.  As I grow older, I see him in my eyes in the mirror, and I often wonder, What would he do?  What would he say?  

We talked about how we can allow more space for the "unbidden and unconscious," and she said, "Wait, here it is, the poem that talks about that!"

William Ellery Channing's poem, "My Symphony," Chris' gift to me, mine to you:

My Symphony

To live content with small means. To seek elegance rather than luxury,     and refinement rather than fashion. To be worthy not respectable,     and wealthy not rich. To study hard, think quietly, talk gently,     act frankly, to listen to stars, birds, babes,     and sages with open heart, to bear all cheerfully,     do all bravely, await occasions, hurry never. In a word, to let the spiritual,     unbidden and unconscious,     grow up through the common. This is to be my symphony.