[blox_row][blox_column width=”1/1″][blox_heading title=”Whoever first said that getting old is not for sissies, must have been getting older themselves. ” size=”h3″ style=”style5″ animation=”none”][/blox_heading][blox_text animation=”none”]
Any age has its issues.
Any age has its challenges.
Every age needs intentional attention in order to be fully alive for however long one’s days are granted to them.
That this year, 2015, has me turning 73 does surprise me a bit. But all I have to do is look in the mirror as I type this in a hotel room in Boston and, yup!, there is some olde dude staring back at me.
A few weeks ago my precious wife and I celebrated 48 years of marriage. When we were growing up, only olde people were married that long. 🙂 And here we are…thankfully.
Change Is A Choice
At any age the unexpected can happen.
Our goddaughter died unexpectedly at 25yo clear back in 1998 of totally unknown causes, 104 days into her marriage. That was not a choice.
Some choices are not of our choosing.
Not paying the right attention to my health had me adding weight in past years that brought a warning from my doctor, when he asked, “If you could live as long as you would like to live, how long would that be?” That did bring a choice to get healthier by moving (like exercise moving…) and paying attention to what I put in my body and when.
Today I am where I am supposed to be…by choice.
Change Is Necessary
The fact is owned that some days it’s not “fun” getting older. Other days it’s a rewarding place to be. Looking back, I’m humbled and amazed at the life I’ve been allowed to live.
I’ve made some colossal mistakes. Owned them. Have been forgiven. Have worked, with some added counsel, at forgiving myself, and forgiving some others who have not done well with me. I live in the freedom of forgiveness given and received.
This has helped clear the pathway for change as the years add up. Older souls often need that mentoring encouragement to not be stuck in the past in order to live free and clear into all their remaining days.
Change, Deep Change, Is Welcome
We all long to die peacefully. Yet dying is not a welcome topic for most people.
We all long to be healthy for as long as possible. Yet physical issues can sneak up on even the healthiest of people, even when we are doing our best to be healthy.
We all long to be alert and focused and intellectually astute. Yet some days it takes a few more seconds to remember where we put the car keys, or who that is coming toward us at the mall or at church.
We all long to know that our time on planet Earth has made a difference. Yet some days in honest weariness we may wonder.
We all long to be independent as long as possible. Yet, there will come a time when we will need to yield to the care of others, with great grace and thankfulness.
Thus, even those older also need the intentional, deep-change care of whole-life mentoring.
Remind me some day that I wrote this blog post.
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