... written by a very
wise Senior.
A Gift ...
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, he was immediately
embarrassed, but I explained that it was an
interesting question, and I would
ponder it, and let him
know.
Growing Older, 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 wrinkles, the baggy eyes,
and the cellulite. 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 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 be messy,
to be extravagant, to smell the
flowers.
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 then sleep until --
?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the
50's 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 ( if they live).
I know I am
sometimes forgetful. But then 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 dies or
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 discover
Lady
Clairol) 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 your question, I like being older. 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 ... ( if I want
).
Today, I wish you a day of ordinary
miracles.
Love
Simply
Love
generously.
Care
deeply.
Speak
kindly.
Leave the rest to God.