My birthday is Sunday. I feel twenty years younger than the age on my driver's license. My health is good, I work at staying fit, my diet is excellent and my enthusiasm for life has steadily increased over the past decade.
This happy state hasn't, however, been easy or uninterrupted. Earlier this year I suffered a medical condition which required major surgery and left me with less of my corporeal self. You might say it took a chunk out of me, literally. Fortunately that episode is now behind me and yesterday my surgeon said I'm in great shape.
The experience shook me, however, and prompted serious soul-searching. Examining my life -- what it's been, where it's going -- was ultimately constructive. I dug deep and found some wisdom. Age can bring enlightenment if you're open to it.
I don't recommend facing mortality as starkly as I did but we all need to examine our lives and choose, consciously, how we want to live. The worst we can do is pass time on auto-pilot, not appreciating the precious gift of life. Be aware! Make deliberate choices! Savor experiences.
Reading this week I came across some sage words on aging. Let me share them and see what they cause you to think.
* * * * *
"At first we want life to be romantic; later, to be bearable; finally, to be understandable."
(Louise Bogan)
"A contented old age...depends on what we were like before we became old."
(Arthur Krystal)
"The goal...is to live long enough to think: I've lived long enough."
(Arthur Krystal)
"Old age is full of death and full of life. It is a tolerable achievement and it is a disaster. It transcends desire and it taunts it. It is long enough and it is far from being long enough."
(Ronald Blythe)
And, to close, some words from Rodney Dangerfield: "I'm at the age where food has taken the place of sex in my life. In fact, I've just had a mirror put over my kitchen table."
How do you feel about the prospect of aging?
Happy upcoming birthday! Always good to celebrate another one.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad your surgeon said you're doing great. Love news like that :)
Thank you, friend.
DeleteAh, another fellow scorpio like myself. My birthday is a week this Sunday. Happy early birthday my friend. I cannot believe I'm going to be 36 in a few days. I certainly don't feel it. I wish we had a slow down or pause button. Life certainly does fly by so quickly and I wish it would slow down a bit.
ReplyDeleteSorry to hear about your medical issues earlier this year but I'm glad to hear that you're doing much, much better. :)
Have a lovely weekend my friend and happy early birthday again! :)
Get ready: life speeds up as you get older! Now I just turn around and a decade has passed.
DeleteFirst, congratulations and best wishes on your birthday.
ReplyDeleteSecond, I am glad that the surgery is in the rear view mirror and you got the green light from the white coat brigade.
Third, getting old has its issue and we all have to face the grim reaper. As I age I feel as if there are still things I want and need to do but as I get out and about I am really starting to realize that I am older than dirt and that in many settings I have simply aged out of the demographic. Anyone who tells you age is only a number is simply patronizing you.
Ha! That reflects my experience as well. In our minds, we're young, fit and able. In reality, not so much. Reminds me of an Onion article making fun of men who mistakenly believe they could win a fistfight when, in truth, they'd fall over their own feet.
DeleteHappy happy birthday my wise friend. You are only as old as you feel and you appear to be quite youthful these days. I appreciate your wisdom however, which I think is a positive part of getting older. <3
ReplyDeleteThanks, pal. You're right that attitude matters a great deal. I'm gonna stay this way as long as I can.
DeleteAww happy early birthday, Ally ❤️❤️❤️ birthdays are a strange thing, aren’t they? They force introspection and reflection—I love that about them. I hope it’s a beautiful one this year, filled with incredible friends and life experiences. It sounds to me that you’re living your best life, my friend. Xoxo
ReplyDeleteThanks, pal. I'm doing my best, which is the most any of us can do.
DeleteI think I read the same articles you did.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2019/11/04/why-we-cant-tell-the-truth-about-aging?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits
https://longreads.com/2019/10/23/im-72-so-what/?utm_source=pocket&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pockethits
I'm always hunting down articles about aging. It's not for sissies that's for sure. Of course the alternative isn't ideal. Shame we don't have a third option, "I'll take what's behind curtain number three!"
I'm so delighted that the Dr. said all is well. Health episodes shake us to our core. Remembering how fragile our lives are is important. We take too much for granted.
Happy Birthday on Sunday girlfriend!
Suzanne
http://www.suzannecarillo.com
I'm joining you in the search for Door No. 3!
DeleteI often think about your surgery and hoping that all is ok with it now. Horrid, horrid times. I am so glad you are ok.
ReplyDeleteI do NOT like the prospect of ageing! The trouble is, everyone my age is doing all these very grownup things like having children and I just avoid all that!!
Thanks, pal; I'm fine now. I know what you mean about "growing up;" I resisted it for decades. Nothing wrong with that!
DeleteI'm glad you came out the other side of surgery and are back to health.
ReplyDeleteI'm not afraid of aging. It's what we do. I'm more afraid that if I'm getting older, those i care about are getting older too, and my pool of loved ones shrinks.
But i am admittedly proud that I've almost made it to 30 (in january). 3 decades, almost 12 years of marriage, and managing to cope despite chronic illness.
I'm trying to find what brings me joy. I think that's the secret to staying young.
Yes, your last statement is true. Enthusiasm generates energy which equates to youthfulness. I root for you every day!
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry I missed your birthday so I'm sending you belated birthday wishes now! I hope it was great and I'm so glad you're fully recovered from surgery. I wish I could have a more positive outlook on aging, but I don't. It's been a miserable process in every way.
ReplyDeleteSo as not to leave on a down note, I'm glad you're healthy and enjoying life! That makes me happy to see.
I understand your point and wish you well, too, on our journey into the future.
Delete