Question of the Day | 03/19/2009 11:00 pm

Spring has arrived! In this time of rebirth and renewal, what do you want to remake or rework in your life?

Joan Ganz Cooney | 03/19/2009 11:00 pm

Joan Ganz Cooney to Spring to the Zoo

Where to start? I’m determined to try to be less scheduled and more spontaneous. Having gone to an office every day for all of my adult life, it’s hard to break the habit. I can’t believe I’ve lived across the street from the Central Park Zoo for over a year and haven’t visited it. I adore animals so I’m determined to get to know who’s who there. And I want to spontaneously partake of some of the wonderful things always going on in the city. I’d like to see a news story about some new exhibit somewhere or some new play that’s opened and be able to say, "I think I’ll go to that this afternoon." It’s going to take some discipline but I have to remember: if not now, when?

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Liz Smith | 03/20/2009 12:00 pm

Spring Cleaning With Liz Smith

What I want to “remake” in my life is the big clean-out – my closets, my files, my voluminous papers (which are now going slowly to the Harry Ransom School at the University of Texas where they will reside with the papers of Norman Mailer, Woodward & Bernstein, Gloria Swanson and George M. Cohan, to name a few). And my books – my goodness – what does one do with a lifetime of books? The Strand has already taken caskets full of books but my apartment is still overflowing.

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Julia Reed | 03/22/2009 10:30 am

Julia Reed on Life, in All Its Gritty Glory

I know it sounds hokey, but I really want to find more joy in the day to day. It ain’t hard to locate — I just let myself get bogged down in the frustrating stuff, like my jammed inbox, my unanswered phone calls, responsibilities I wish I hadn’t taken on, all the things I let take up too much room in my brain. Like Joan, I want to be more spontaneous and make time for things I think I’m too busy to do.

I was really deeply affected in a way I wouldn’t have anticipated by Natasha Richardson’s tragic death. I had met her on several occasions and found her incredibly warm and gracious and I thought she was an amazing actress, but it wasn’t just that. It was that this glowing, vibrant woman’s life could be snuffed out so fast, without warning, after a seemingly inconsequential fall. My first thoughts went to the people she left behind — her family, her young boys — because that level of loss and grief is so heartbreaking, and there is no way not to feel empathy. I think everyone’s thoughts turn immediately to those left behind.

But then I started thinking of something more unfathomable: what she lost. She probably had no time to even realize what had happened to her — that she was going to die — and thank God. But I got so sad thinking of what she’ll never know: her children growing up, her next challenging role, every little precious moment — the kind I take for granted. So for those of us still blessed with life in all its gritty glory, not to be fully living it — not to be reveling in it — is unforgivable. And I gotta do better.

18 Comments

Judith Martin | 03/22/2009 11:00 am

Self-Improvement? Judith Martin Would Rather Clean the Attic

For a super-organized person such as myself, it is not only spring that serves as an inspiration to put everything in order, but autumn, New Year’s Day, every birthday, every Monday and every free weekend. So one of those times, I am bound to get to the out-of-sight mess in the attic. I am waiting for the children to reclaim their share of what’s up there, and it could be a long wait. Oh, wait, you are probably asking about self-improvement. Nah. I’d rather clean the attic.

2 Comments

Candice Bergen | 03/22/2009 1:25 pm

Candice Bergen Reflects on Natasha Richardson's Death

Natasha Richardson’s tragic death seems to have hit everyone so terribly hard. Even those who didn’t know her. And for those who did — it is unbearable. Heartbreaking. She was the most vibrant, beautiful, gracious presence. And such talent. But she was not born a beauty. Her sister, Joely, was the tall, slim, blonde stunner and Natasha was the chubby, shorter girl. It was Natasha who cooked during the summers at her father’s house in the south of France. She cooked while the houseguests went down the hill to the beach. And she cooked beautifully. She was a natural. But she had to make a choice to become beautiful. To get that fantastic figure. To sing in a musical, "Cabaret", when she wasn’t a trained singer and then to win a Tony for her performance in it. A performance which was heartbreaking. She made such an impact personally on people. There was something electric about her. And the love she shared with her dear, handsome, talented husband. The connection between them. I never met her boys. But they will suffer this for the rest of their lives. And spend the rest of their lives trying to make sense of her absence where there is none. It has shocked us all into realizing, once more, how fragile it is. That this is all a gift. An incalculable, overwhelming, precious gift that we must never take for granted. I agree with Julia on what I would like to focus on for spring. That we are all on borrowed time and should not squander a second.

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81 Reader Comments (so far…) Sign In or Register to comment

I feel that it is time to move to the next higher level of my life. Though I have been stuck for awhile in this present phase, I can feel my creativity returning. My mind is seeing the possiblity of changing my environment, redesigning of my home on a shoe string, finding my old adventurous self, being fearless or just doing.. the action vs talking about it.

By Lindy Coffee on 03/20/2009 12:06 pm

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Lindy, I love the sound of that - moving from talking to action. I think I might try that adventure in my own life!

By Green Tears on 03/20/2009 1:14 pm

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My sex life; as in getting one.

Four years is enough time to mourn even the formidable Mr. O’Reilly.

Good thing they say it’s like riding a bike.

By Helen O'Reilly on 03/20/2009 2:37 pm

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I want to remake my self-esteem to more closely reflect my childhood when I thought the world was wide open for fun and fabulous me. And rework the way I go about conducting my daily life and interactions.

By Oh! My Favorite on 03/20/2009 6:27 pm

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I want to reawaken my life as an active ‘can-do’ person. I’ve spent the better part of my week off from work putting some good old sweat equity into my home and yard. I love the results so far, and I look forward to the growth and blooming of the star gazer lilies I planted!

By Melanie Waldrop on 03/20/2009 8:29 pm

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To remake or renew that’s a tough one for me. I would like cancer to stay out of my body and find a peaceful place to live that wouldn’t cost an arm and a leg.

By Deniseann Taylor on 03/20/2009 11:15 pm

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I must unclutter my life. I have too many books, too many unworn clothes, too many unused things in my kitchen, stuff stashed in closets, cupboards that don’t need to be there. It’s a great idea, but wonder if I will actually do this? I hope I get the motivation.

By Lizzie R. on 03/21/2009 1:12 am

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I want a new perm, highlights, and new thighs…I know, I’m shallow. CA

By C A Rose on 03/21/2009 2:09 am

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I promised myself I’d stop wasting my energy attempting to get people to like me - 64 years, as of next week. My psychologist told me that there would be people - no matter what I did, no matter how much of myself and my resources I gave - who would never want to be my friends. She said I had spent my whole life "acting", trying to be whomever (at the moment) people wanted me to be (much as I had as a child for my parents). I had dummed myself down to most, and was always self-effacing, hoping someone would care for me and accept me…such a waste of myself!

She said that the ones on the same intellectual level, the ones who loved to laugh/guffaw, the ones who also walked barefoot around their homes, the ones who were not so caught up in making money all day, the ones who believed in "make peace, not war", those free-spirited and just plain "themselves" would eventually surface, and we could all be friends in our second half of life.

So, now it is all finally happening at last! I’ve stopped trying to please everyone, even my sons! They have to kiss my…now, and not me doing the kissing for their affection! Wow! (I was the one still wanting the umbilical cord!)

I finally realize it’s okay to be the very happy, nonjudgmental, barefoot, unconventional, weird, off-the-wall, silly, curious hippie I was back in the sixties…

By Carol Roberts on 03/21/2009 9:23 am

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Sounds good to me Carol………….

Good luck in the acceptance of yourself………isn’t it great to really know YOU!!!!!!

You’ll make lots of friends here……..we come in all sizes……..all types……Some really serious……..most funny, but almost all of us are supportive of each other.

By Dona Howlett on 03/22/2009 9:41 am

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Carol………..I just looked you up…….

I didn’t realize this was your first entry into the Wowowow World……

WELCOME ABOARD………

By Dona Howlett on 03/22/2009 9:42 am

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My country.

By marta pont on 03/21/2009 11:45 am

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I would like to get out this depression I’ve been in which has consumed me, and has harmed my health. I am sort of like Carol above, I have given everyone my all — hopefully now it’s time to get some time back from others, if not I’m just going to do it myself.

By Rho on 03/21/2009 2:14 pm

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Hey Rho………

Suggestion if you don’t mind.

How about making a little note and place it on your makeup mirror.

It says………I’m a wonderful person and I LOVE MYSELF.

By Dona Howlett on 03/22/2009 9:45 am

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when I was in my early thirties, a very close friend, who had arrived at forty, suddenly sold her house, all of her possessions, and took off on what ended up as a two year wandering around the globe. her letters back were a gourmet meal of adventures. remote locales, huts on beaches in no man’s land, crewing boats, experiencing cultures at ground level.

with the economy in shambles, and the sweeping emotional malaise and lack of hope that has taken the country, she comes to mind these days

By Buh- Bye on 03/21/2009 3:54 pm