AGING

I have come to believe that there are four groupings in life: birth, aging, illness, and death. Everyone must face these collective passageways as they move through life. I am amazed, however, at how I have passively progressed through these categories without much forethought. With little awareness, I have not been flexible in interpreting what I have learned within each of these categories. Yet, as each year passes, I am transforming into an extraordinary, new person; the individual that I always intended to be.

All of us bear the virtues of the people and communities that raised us. These authorities not only shaped our values and personalities; they passed on everything from traditions to faith to quirky savings. As we age and advance throughout adulthood, we strive to find and develop our own way. In time, we easily see these original teachers as figures we have flown from; yet, they are forever embedded in our pasts.

Becoming an evolved and complete person is a lifelong process. We learn to navigate our existence and come to accept our aging process by way of our journey’s entirety. Some believe we are following our historical blueprints and aging is simply one guidepost established as our years progress.

Often, upon reflecting on the course of life, we confront challenges that, at the time, are difficult to navigate. Our struggles range from declining health to the loss of intimate loved ones. Although growing older can be exasperating, it can also be a time of reflection based upon grace and resilience.

With perseverance as a focus, maturing can be viewed as a natural, interconnective process, rather than a personal decline. In doing so, life emphasizes the value of one’s existence and the importance of balance and harmony. Wisdom becomes distributed. Conversely, to resist aging is hopeless; while embracing it allows for a deep, inner evolution. This is the insight that allows individual stories about understanding to emerge.

I am hopeful that resilience, in the face of physical maturation, is about mental versatility and strength. It is a process of learning to bounce back from setbacks and adversity, while maintaining a sense of inner calm. By concentrating on what we can truly control, we can traverse the obstacles of aging with greater ease.

Although I cannot truly regulate my aging process, I strive to respond constructively to its outcomes. I focus on my inner qualities and values, rather than my external appearance. Choosing to cultivate positive habits and staying engaged with those whom I love has become the greater goal. I continue to select a sense of persistence and achievement. In doing so, the blueprint of my life expands. These inner workings rest with all of us.

To further my development, I should learn to mirror my daughter’s diligent practices of Qigong, yoga, meditation, and Tai Chi. Eastern philosophical aids that allow her to carefully maintain both her physical and mental well-being. With those instruments, I could staunchly promote more positivity in my aging process, and combine longevity and vitality in my remaining years.

Total acknowledgement of the aging process is a powerful tool. To welcome the inevitability of growing older is to creatively cultivate personal flexibility, and a broader meaning and purpose to our world.

In the end, by embracing all interconnections in my advancing years, I can develop a stronger moral compass, where I can encourage wisdom, courage, justice, and kindness. By enduring my past, and living with integrity, I can magically create a meaningful framework, and inspire others to do the same.