Thinking about Aging Again!

Aging isn’t a game to be played.

It isn’t a volcano to be capped or a river to be dammed. It can’t be exercised away or ‘botoxed’ into oblivion.

Growing older is a day by day process of keeping aware of the changes, those shifts in perspective as well as the slowing of the mind and body. Emotions even dance with less drama.

And the Spirit? The Spirit soars when I give it space and time to merge into my every day experience.

What seems to last, for me, is the humor.

I can laugh at myself these days when I am by myself, not just when I’m retelling a story of misadventure or miscommunication.

Do I miss anything of youth? Not much!

Certainly not the pain and anxiety of all the firsts: first tooth, first bra, first period, first drink, first dance, first kiss, first sexual tumble, first husband, first baby, first call from the police, first car accident, and on and on.

If I miss anything at all, it is of the early wonder when every single thing was new.

But, I can get that back, by slowing down and taking each thing in as if I have never seen or experienced it before.

Aging doesn’t mean shutting down or being shut away.

It can mean expanding and continually being present for old and new experiences alike.

Aging means wrinkles at the edges of smiles, saying hello to all the cats and dogs on the street, wearing makeup or a clown’s nose, donning sweats to the post office or concert clothes.

Aging means I can recreate myself or value my ‘oldering’ model.

There is a freedom now, and I relish it. There are advantages, and I’m opening to every perk of aging as I come to recognize each one.