It has been a week rich in re-connections with friends – four consecutive days with four different couples and, in one case, three generations of their family. There are many common touchstones, including the college that educated and employed us and the vocations we pursued developing human potential, delivering a variety of healing arts and extending our physical and spiritual ties with the earth.

The backdrop for these gatherings included visits to a special island in Lake Winnipesaukee, the annual loon count on Squam Lake, an Arlo Guthrie concert in Maine and an annual family reunion located this year on Lake Winnisquam.

Over dinner last night a friend of our children’s generation asked what I was up to these days. My reply included culling the files and correspondence of many years and looking to connect the dots of meaning. In response he shared a phrase that struck a chord.

Years ago, on a three day trip to see a Grateful Dead concert he and some friends picked up an older hitchhiker. They had plenty of time for conversation while driving and camping out en route. Explaining his journey, the stranger shared that periodically he took stock and realized that his perspective on life had changed about every five years. He summed up his approach to the future this way: “I just want to stick around to see how the view changes…”

Shifting our perspective can serve us all well, no matter what our age. Are we stuck in the expectation of a pre-ordained outcome? How do we open ourselves and our relationships to new possibilities? How can we continue to make a difference in the lives of those most dear to us and the communities we call home?