Perhaps the
key to aging gracefully suggests our collective need to
Kindly inspire each other to
seek to
unlock
The inner sanctum of our minds so as to ease
The way for unique individuals to gain access to insight concerning
Human nature’s
universal need to embrace changes, which
Though classic in nature, we’d not choose for ourselves ...
For instance, perhaps, upon nearing the mid-mark of
Our seventh decade of life, common sense suggests that
We absorb personal
need to experience the relaxing nature of
‘A gone fishing day’ in direct proportion to the number of
Consecutive days that mind and body signal need of
Recharging from time spent enjoying any pleasure (or
Deflecting any fear or pain) that retrospectively proves
Overly stimulating so as to keep this reality in mind:
Whereas children bounce back overnight, adults may awaken feeling as if
We're nursing a hang-over after partying too heartily with small fry, and
As that reaction exacerbates with age, common sense suggests formulating
A go-to
plan of action to tame our
impatience with the evolutionary
Inevitability of where our aging process is heading—for example
Here is mine: First, I
consciously acknowledge my frustration so as to
Release (rather than repress) my
attitude of emotional negativity in
Time out, and once my
rebalanced good-natured spirit has been
Restored, I return to loved ones with the intention of
‘Fessing' up to the
fact that
deeper truth, which will not be
Denied, over long, has begun to shine its intuitive spotlight upon
This reality: I have advanced to the age of
natural irritability, which
Can be disruptive unless my intelligence takes note of mind, body or
Both signaling my need of down time to relax and recoup
Energy spent, and thus does self awareness (concerning my
Having embraced
all aspects of second childhood) offer
My strength of spirit reason to voice (release) pent up
Frustration in such a positively focused, self disciplined manner as to
Inspire my adult offspring to follow in my footsteps when
Father Time, marching on, deems it their turn to
choose to
Model aging
graciously for their kids as has been true of me with mine ...
Speaking personally, aging gracefully is far from easy
Why? Because we must do more than recite false platitudes on
Center stage while admiring fans, sitting first row center, lap up
Our
persona's well practiced, socially accepted,
acting chops (which
Masks the depths of your inner conflict and mine concerning
The aging process, fooling none as
completely as is true of ourselves—in fact
Aging gracefully from the inside out means
choosing to be as
Kind to
yourself each time you peer into your mirror as you are while
Responding lovingly to the laments of a treasured friend, whose
Natural knee jerk reaction of frustration is bound to erupt each time
A reality check spotlights yet another maddening aspect of
The aging process, which just keeps rolling along ... and now
Having reached this point in today's insight-driven intuitive train of thought
It’s likely that
your processor might think to ask:
So what do
you do when
your mirror declares that
Yet
another sign of youth has slipped beyond
your grasp so as not to
Beat your chest while railing away (in time out, of course) at fate?
In
answer to your question: I
consciously choose to switch
Mental tracks from dwelling on loss toward spotlighting some
Positive aspect of my existential being, which still proves
Very much intact—for instance, my glance may shift away from
Facial changes toward the small circumference of my waist, or if
I feel too weary to walk to a nearby park with my family
I may consider my love of reading or smile at the natural
Re-emergence of my spirit’s corny sense of humor or (taking
Today’s post into consideration), I may set my sights upon penning
A train of thought that proves significantly more enriching in
Terms of insight than ditties penned earlier in the week, highlighting
The fact that my bone wearied mental state has, once again, benefited from
Days spent floating down a lazy river, where calm waters ‘neath
A sunlit bright blue sky serves to refresh my mind ... and if a clear shot of
Reality suggests that the calming nature of the river is actually
A royal blue tiled, heated backyard spa, which invites body and mind to
Submerge within a relaxed state of bubbly contentment then
Thank goodness my positively focused imaginative powers prove as
Naturally resilient as is true of my spirit's daffy sense of humor—
Ohhmmm
PS
Hmmm—another insight just flashed through my mind—not for the first time
In fact, the first time I shared it aloud was when my mom's spoken thoughts
Were engaged in putting her (aging) self down, at which time
I heard myself say: Though everyone has a turn at being young
Only the lucky have a turn at growing old, and
Of those who are so fortunate as to grow old
Only those who choose to grow ever more self aware
Become more wisely gracious, less grumpily wizened while
A younger-than-springtime smile continues to
Dance harmoniously with Father Time
(So—okay—maybe my spoken words were less melodic than
Today's intuitive train of thought proves to be; however
My compassionate tone of voice and loving smile helped to
Clarify that insight for Mom, who returned my smile while replying:
I wish I could think the same way you do, Annie—to which
I replied: My thinking patterns didn't 'just happen', Mom.
I've chosen to grow ever more practiced at switching off
A naturally negative attitude, most especially when
The subject is aging, in favor of embracing
A positively focused attitude that lifts my spirit by
Making certain that I don't wear a frown from putting myself down
That conversation took place at least ten years ago, and just as
My spirit feels tickled and delighted by everything that
Ravi's sense of wonderment picks up and absorbs so naturally
Day by day, I charge myself with fending off feeling
Dismayed by whatever I'd once so easily achieved that proves
Beyond my present ability to enjoy, and with that plan
In mind, I hear the positively focused side of my nature say:
"Ravi, Grandma can't crawl along the floor on all fours while
We're playing Lion King, so let's make good use of your
Magic wand (of which we have several, one of which
Lights up while magical sounds tinkle through the air) so that
While you're being Simba, we can imagine Nala rising up to
Adventure through the Pridelands on her hind paws, and with
A giggle, my grand daughter runs toward the toy box where her
Favorite magic wand awaits her every command while
My playful smile widens at having wriggled both our minds away from
That which Grandma Annie can no longer do, and
In this creative way does my think tank inspire
My child-like spirit to play harmoniously with
A three-year old's belief in our ability to achieve the impossible dream
Yesterday, upon picking up Ravi for a playdate, I asked if
She'd like to stop for ice cream before going to Gramma's house to play
Much to my surprise, Ravi replied. No Gramma. Let's go to
Your house, right now. But Ravi, I countered, you love ice cream!
I want to play with you, Gramma. We can have popsicles for a snack.
(Sugar free, fruit juice popsicles in keeping with Mommy's boundaries
Concerning 'in-house' snacks, of course!)
