Tuesday, March 06, 2018

Celebrating A Coming Of Age

"One of the greatest things about getting older is that you can look behind and see how it went and that helps you look forward."
-------------------------------------------

One night last week while taking my after-dinner walk, I suddenly had a thought. Actually, it wasn't a thought, it was more like a powerful realization that seemed to ripple throughout my mind, body and spirit.

It felt like a reawakening.

At 62 years old, I feel as though I have more energy and feel more alive than I did when I was in my 30's, 40's, and 50's. I know it sounds completely insane to say this but I actually feel younger now, than I did when I was younger. I've always had a great deal of energy, however, when I was younger my energy was scattered. Now that I'm older, my energy feels more channeled because I'm consciously aware of how to use it.

Sure, being 62, I have experienced the physical "dings and dents" that come with aging. But, regardless of those changes in my body, I somehow feel stronger and more resilient than ever.

I've always been adventurous and open to trying new things. Yet at this age, I feel even more adventurous and more open to learning.

In a strange way, much like crystal clear windows, it feels as though I'm looking through cleaner eyes; viewing everything fresh.

When I was a child, I always longed to be older. I somehow sensed that as I grew in age, I would relax into myself; discovering the gifts that come with aging.

-----------------------------------------------

Change:

Nothing is permanent, whether it be a time of great struggle and turmoil, or a time of great ease and smooth sailing. Times are never permanent. I'm learning to go with the flow of change; discovering its value. Aging...no matter how hard we try to resist it, will happen. So I might as well embrace it and focus on the perks.

Fear:

I think there are primarily two kinds of fear. There is the fear that comes in the way of intuition, warning me not to go there because it's dangerous. That kind of fear is positive.

But there is also the fear that taps into my insecurities, stopping me from growing because of "What if I fail?" That kind of fear is not-so positive because it can paralyze me into doing nothing.

I was born with many fears, all of which have at one time or another pushed my buttons into a panic. Yet at the same time, these fears have been my greatest teachers because they've pissed me off to the point of overcoming them, by walking through them.

Yes...I am fearful.

But I refuse to give into it.

Acceptance:

I'm learning that instead of struggling and trying to get everything to go my way, it's often easier to accept the things I cannot change and grow from them because struggling makes it so much harder to experience. I've learned that through acceptance, there comes great power. Very often, a road block will direct me to a better place.

Taking Chances:

Playing it safe all the time, to me anyway, is boring. I was taught as a child to always play it safe because that's what my parents were taught. Yet, I never thought it was a healthy way to live life.

Taking careless chances is one thing.

However, taking chances because I feel in my gut that it's the right thing to do, regardless of how afraid I might be, is the only way to grow and expand.

Staying involved with life and keeping it moving:

I've learned to hang on to my childlike wonder, and in doing so I stay involved and curious about life.

This is why I enjoy being in the presence of children. They instantly remind me how important those two things are to growth.

Children also remind me the importance of not taking everything so seriously, and to remain playful.

------------------------------------------  

I am extremely grateful for where I'm at this time of my life and where age has taken me. Now I understand what they mean by "your golden years" because that's exactly how it feels.

Like gold.

"Aging is not lost youth, but a new window of opportunity and strength."

Have a faaaaaaaaabulous week, y'all!

X