“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” – Mary Oliver
A decade ago, I reached out to my grandmother to wish her a happy 80th birthday. She chuckled and replied, “Oh, Emma. I don’t feel 80.” At the time, I had just celebrated my 30th birthday, beginning to grasp the complexities of aging. Yet, I resonated with her perspective: in our minds, we remain perpetually youthful.
Now, as I greet my 40s, I feel this sentiment more profoundly. The experience of aging is not what I anticipated. While I acknowledge the physical signs—those lines that have made a permanent residence on my forehead, the sagging skin on my arms, the unexpected gray hairs that sprout like weeds, and my increasing preference for comfortable footwear—these are merely surface-level changes. I am not aging; my body is. My focus remains on maintaining my health and making the most of my physical form, but I recognize that eventually, it will grow frail and fade. This truth is unavoidable, yet it’s something we often struggle to accept. Our physical selves can feel at odds with our vibrant spirits.
Recently, I spent time with my grandmother, now nearing 90. She sometimes expresses frustration when her aging body doesn’t align with her youthful spirit. I understand her well; at 40, I still consider myself a “young woman.” Time may alter our bodies, but it does not diminish our inner youth.
This disconnect between our physical appearance and inner vitality often leads us to cling to our youth, attempting to resist the inevitable passage of time. This inclination may stem from a fear of mortality, society’s preoccupation with youth and beauty, or a genuine desire to harmonize our outer appearance with our inner selves. However, I refuse to squander my unique and fleeting life by trying to halt the flow of time. Instead, I choose to navigate its currents, focusing on the journey and savoring the experiences along the way. Time is not a guarantee, and I aspire to live fully rather than seek ways to deceive myself or others about the reality of aging. The concept of dying does not frighten me; rather, the thought of not truly living does.
Beauty, too, presents a complex challenge. I recall the story of a woman who refrained from smiling for four decades to avoid wrinkles. How tragic! Our faces tell the story of our lives, and laughter lines reflect joy and experiences embraced. Although I may be self-conscious about certain lines, they narrate my journey—an individual who ponders deeply, a nurturing mother, a writer looking to articulate the thoughts swirling in my mind. Therefore, I do not despise the lines on my face; they contribute to my narrative.
These visible signs of aging do not contradict an ageless spirit; rather, they serve as storytellers of our lives. When viewed through this lens, our exterior aligns with our interior. Lines, wrinkles, and gray hair are not mere surface changes; they symbolize the beautiful complexity of being human. There is profound beauty in the tales they tell, marking the passage of time and the life lessons that accompany it.
As I celebrate another year of life, I feel the fear of aging dissolve. There is no room for that negativity. Aging is a universal experience, but we can choose how we approach it. I opt to age gracefully, to embrace life joyfully, and to welcome my age, drooping skin and all.
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In summary, as we age, we must focus on embracing our journey, recognizing that our physical changes tell the stories of our lives. Rather than fear aging, we can choose to celebrate it.
Keyphrase: Embracing Age
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