We are all multi-faceted, and this image to me illustrates that idea.

The notion that like an onion we have many dimensions to us comes to mind.

I think we’d all like to think there is more to us than meets the eye.

I have a neighbour who comes to mind. He is a retired High School Principal and is now days suffering with Parkinson’s Disease.

But he doesn’t see this as a handicap rather as an impetus to get out and do as much as he can for himself while he can.

He rides every day, he goes on trips with his wife and explores the countryside and next year he and his wife are planning a cycling trip to Italy.

He is an avid gardener; his vegetable patch is brilliant to behold, and he maintains a passion and enthusiasm for mathematics.

The other afternoon he found him tutoring a young student and after he was telling me how alive he felt delving into his one great passion.

It is sad to watch the deterioration that is occurring within him, he can no longer sign his name for example, but he maintains a great sense of humour and to me is a wonderful example of not giving in but rather living life to the fullest. I admire him greatly for that.

For me he gives me hope that even though I too live with a chronic disease, there is before me an example of living as if there is a tomorrow and I am grateful for that.

We do spend the most pleasant of times on his back veranda talking over the world’s problems and how one thing or another could easily be solved, in our opinion at any rate.

He is one of these men who listens to you, sympathises when necessary but who is interested in all aspects of my life and marvelling at the exploits of my children.

I always come away from these visits feeling so much better within myself, and I hope he does too, as when I appear he drops whatever he is doing, grabs something to drink, often alcoholic, and we pull up a chair each, and away we go from there.

Written for: https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/reenas-exploration-challenge-week-12/