“The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.
Old age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror, but I don’t agonize over those things for long.
I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I’ve aged, I’ve become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I’ve become my own friend. I don’t chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn’t need, but looks so avant garde on my patio. I am entitled to overeat, to be messy, to be extravagant. I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.
Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a. m, and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60′s, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love … I will.
I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the bikini set. They, too, will get old.
I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten … and I eventually remember the important things.
Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when a beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.
I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turn gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver. I can say “no,” and mean it. I can say “yes,” and mean it.
As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don’t question myself anymore. I’ve even earned the right to be wrong.
So, to answer the question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be.
And I shall eat dessert every single day.”
~Author Unknown~
When I read the above quote, I was struck by how much of this quotation resinated with me. As a matter of fact, it all of it spoke to me. When I wasn’t looking I have become my other. The grey hair makes my head look like I have great highlights.
I, like others of my age, feel as if I’m no order than 20, just a kid finding my footime.If I’m to live until 100, I am more than half way through my life. There is so much more to see, experiennce, learn and do. If you’re pulled to do a ”bucket list”, now is the time. Tick tock the clock losses a second at a time, which means we need to step up our game and do what we want or needed to do.
I am happier that I’ve ever been. Frankly, I’m too tired, too old and too cranky to get sucked into someone else’s drama; don’t start none. won’t be none. The light and the love of a Lightworker is what interests me;to be a part of a “village” for children is important to me; to love a man with my whole heart is what is important to me; to love my daughter, som-in-law and beloved grandson O’Farrell is what is important to me; to be a productive citizen is what is important to me; to love my Buddha” body just as it is is what is important to me; to love and protect my beloved mother, Beatrice is what is important to me; to love all my family and all my friends with all of my heart is what is important to me; to teach others through my intuition and spirituality is what is important to me; to freely share the light and love of Father=Mother God is important to me; to share laughter is what is important to me, and to leave this world a little better for my being here is what is important to me.
Don’t run out and each so much sugar that you send your body into a coma; that is not what I’m adoicating, just use descernment to make your life choices and by doing so, we will all be able to eat more cake.
