A Life Well Lived is an Unfinished Symphony

It has been said that Life is a Grand Symphony. This is certainly true of our lives as married couples. It has also been phrased “A Life Well Lived is an Unfinished Symphony.” And we recently heard it said in reference to Martin Luther King, Jr. that if your life is not an unfinished symphony — “You ain’t dreaming big enough.”

Our Life as a Couple is Like a Symphony

MF: I love music, all kinds, and this analogy is so fitting! I think of times when we have been perfectly in sync, finishing each other’s sentence and reading each other’s mind. Many times, our strengths and behaviors are complementary, like beautiful harmony. Some of the best times have been melodies in full chase. Never too far in front, and always looking back, with encouragement, affirmation or a loving nod. These times of growth are like an exciting crescendo as we work to overcome a challenge. We have also experienced times of dissonance, notes that challenge our harmony. These are all parts of the Symphony of our Lives.

Dreaming Together

MF: Dreaming keeps our symphony alive and vibrant. Some of our most fun times during our dating and early married years were sharing hopes and dreams. We dreamed of having children, a dozen of them and named them all. Working together was a dream come true. We dreamed for our children when they started pre-school and shared dreams laced with tears when we dropped them off at College. We continue to dream for them. Check out this post “Dream a Little Dream With Me” and explore the power of dreaming together.

Do We Dare to Dream Big?

Tom: Will others say when we are gone, “They lived well. Their life was an unfinished symphony.” I can certainly see that in the life of my sister who recently passed. She left this world with books published, and books still in her dreams. She had lofty goals. Days before her death she dreamed of forming a community of prayer within her final hospice home. She inspires us to continue to dream.

Legacy of Love

Tom: Encouraging each other to dream big is what keeps our Symphony ‘moving‘. Sharing our dreams inspires us to a unified vision (think exciting crescendo). This harmony of vision was essential in parenting but is just as important as we continue to dream the finale.

We invite you to dream not just of a next vacation, but of a Legacy of Love. How will future generations remember you? What are you doing to breathe life into those dreams? Are you OK with unfinished dreams? Let MLK’s homily delivered the month before his death on Unfinished Dreams inspire you.

Dreaming Keeps our Focus on the Horizon

MF: Perhaps you, like us, are coasting into retirement. In a Symphony this is the Adagio, right before the finale, a time of reflection and looking back. It’s a time to appreciate the highs and lows, to acknowledge trials and tribulations. Reflecting on our list of accomplishments is like looking in the rear-view mirror. It is important. But if our eyes aren’t still focused on the horizon — we shouldn’t be driving.

To keep your eyes focused on the horizon we need to keep dreaming. Here are some conversation starters to keep your dreams and passions alive and vibrant. Together Let’s Continue to Dream Big and build our Legacy of Love.