Note from the family: It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Rev. Linda McNamar on April 14. Her monthly columns were full of insight and inspiration to all our readers, and we know that they will be greatly missed. The following column was submitted before her death.
Oh, the places we have been, the things we have seen and the people we have become. So many different roles we have had through our lifetimes.
We haven’t stayed the same as time moved us forward, so why would we expect our world to? Do you remember phone booths, black-and-white television, getting a nickel on a Saturday to buy a candy bar?
I haven’t always recognized what a gift it is to be alive, but I do now. You and I have witnessed so many changes, always evolving alongside the world as it became different around us.
James Taylor’s song “Secret o’ Life” encourages us to enjoy the passage of time. He says, “Now the thing about time is that time isn’t really real. It’s just your point of view. How does it feel for you?”
As time carries us forward, even life’s hardest moments become part of our greater adventure of deepening wisdom, resilience and understanding. Aging may not always feel like a blessing in the moment, but think of all we’ve lived through. Each challenge, each transition, has shaped us, leaving us stronger in spirit, more uniquely ourselves.
Time really is just the container that holds all of our experiences. Aging isn’t about losing anything; it’s about evolving. It’s about stepping into a new chapter with openness and curiosity.
Yes, it can be difficult to let go of old expectations, but there is also great freedom in it. We can release outdated versions of who we once were. Like a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, we can create space for new experiences, new relationships and new joys.
The time of our lives doesn’t simply march from spring through winter, from youth to old age. It’s a cycle. Spring, summer, fall, winter – and then spring again.
Spring is the perfect moment to embrace a new season, one of our own choosing. Being present means appreciating what we have now – wisdom, friendships, the beauty of a slower pace and the opportunity to engage with life in ways we never have before.
Transitions in later life can bring a mix of emotions – grief, excitement, uncertainty and renewal. If we meet them with curiosity, openness and a willingness to grow, they can be among the most meaningful moments of all.
This is a time to reflect on the legacy we are shaping, the imprint we leave on the world, and the ways we continue to evolve.
So, what season are you in? Can you open yourself to it, embrace it and see it as a new beginning? After all, “time isn’t really real … It’s just your point of view. How does it feel for you?”
The late Rev. Linda McNamar was a Laguna Woods Village resident.