Aging

Reflections from a birthday

Putting my children to bed on the eve of my birthday was a sweet time as excited little voices chattered about the coming celebrations and young arms embraced me tighter in the joy. Some expressed concern about my getting so old and I assured them that I would still be me in the morning. But it did get me to thinking about the aging process and I made a list of how I will change as I age. I will:

• Move slower

• Listen more intently

• Observe more keenly

• Laugh harder

• Hug longer

• Cook, clean and fold laundry as if they were expressions of art

• Savor routines as the life blood they are to my peace of mind

• Drink in words and then pour them out

• View the clock as a guide rather than a task master

• Rejoice rather than regret

• Be in sync with the seasons

• Study the nuances of life in my loved ones: breathing patterns, fingerprints, footsteps, profiles, daily rituals, voice tones, and their gestures of love

• Celebrate getting to live my life as me

Looking at my list I realized that getting older is more like a return to my younger years. After all, small children actually live with intense joy and wonder at a slower pace; the frenzied pace that causes us to miss the goodness of living happens as adults. I am eager to grow young with a bit of life wisdom tucked into my back pocket.