ChrisAz

The joys of aging

Posted on 03/11/09, 01:55 pm

I don't know who wrote this, but I love it.



I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life or my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder 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 avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, 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 AM and sleep until noon? I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60'S and 70's. And if, at the same time, I 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 jet 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. 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 turning gray and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face.

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.

• Reply #1 03/11/09  7:42pm
  
  olderdragon
  That was very nice. I'll have to meditate which parts (besides the gray hair) pertain to me:) Not too sure about the less self-critical part....
  
  I must be in the beginning stages of old age because my narrow waistline and broad mind seemed to have changed places....ROAR.......
• Reply #2 03/25/09  2:34am
  
  mlb
  Ah...I love it..thank you so much. I guess that I am learning to love my "buddha belly." I might add, I still pretend I am playing a guitar when "The Boss" sings "Badland." At training/work the other day, this song was on the radio when an elder (younger than I) came in and said get that awful music off that radio. (It was not playing loudly). I mentioned it was one of my favorite and got that "you're wierd" look, I have often gotten in my life. I was ready to play that guitar with Bruce Springsteen's enthusiasm (going through the motions)..lol! My grandchildren really giggle when I do that..they think I am wierd too.
  
  namaste
  mlb
• Reply #3 03/28/09  11:45pm
  
  SheriLou
  I love it also. Thank you for sharing.
• Reply #4 03/29/09  10:56am
  
  ChrisAz
  I really love what the person wrote in the original article. I wish I knew who wrote it so that I could give them credit.
  
  But for me, anyway, life is all about learning, growing and becoming the person we were meant to be.
  
  I wrote a poem a while ago and will share it here:
  
  
  Growth is like peeling an onion - one layer at a time. You have to remove one layer before you can get to the next. And it makes you cry.
  
  The question is: When you get to the center, is there nothing?
  
  Or, do you find a pearl?
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Today I am the pearl - the person I was from the beginning. I just didn't know it for many years.
  
  And we all have the pearl at our center. And if we continue to look for it, we will find it sooner or later.
  
  
  I have on my profile page:
  
  If you just take a step sideways and look at things just a little differently, most things are pretty darned funny!
  
  
  
  And that is something I fully believe and do every day of my life - every chance I get.
  
  Aging, for me anyway, is freedom from the need for acceptance and approval from anyone but myself and knowing and accepting who I am.
  
  And I have found that with acceptance of myself comes acceptance of others.
  
  (Well, usually. Laugh)
  
  
  
  I find myself in a rather reflective mood this morning. But I am so thankful to the person who wrote the above.
  
  And with that I will close with the ending lines of something I think I wrote. I'll have to look that one up. Too many years, too many poems. But I have found throughout my life that I can express my emotions much better in poetry than any other way.
  
  
  I've learned to laugh at life.
  I've learned to laugh at me.
  For when I laugh, I've said a prayer
  That sets my spirit free.
  
  
  
  Have an amazing day everyone!
  

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