Thoughts about aging

A time to celebrate

Photo courtesy of Tracey Walsh, Golden Gate Bridge

Thoughts about aging pulse through my veins, racing right along with my blood as life continues to change daily.

My intro might sound daunting. It isn’t. Aging has surprisingly helped me renegotiate my limits in all directions. Perhaps you think I mean that I allow for less or a slower pace. But actually, I feel a freedom I’ve never felt before, which energizes me. These days, I celebrate my strengths, allowing for my flaws, but finally with a sweet temperance.

Join me?

Marisol Muñoz-Kiehne recently sent this response to a comment I made to one of her posts.

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Sue loves easily~

I smiled when I read it, because little did she know, her words could not be truer. I have always loved easily, too easily in some cases, likely because I was an only child. I needed connection and companionship, so I fell in love with more friends than I can count, and beyond that, teachers, bosses, coworkers, strangers in the market, friends’ children, neighbors, the UPS driver—

It’s a trait I have no desire to change all these years later, and especially as I age. Being an older woman actually makes it easier to reach out, extend a warm hand or embrace, without the fear of being misunderstood.

The most important lesson that has taken hold at 70, is that at the end of the day, the only person whose opinion matters is the woman in the mirror. She knows everything about me, what’s true and what isn’t, regardless of what others may say or think.

As I write this, it dawns on me that none of us need to wait for a metaphorical or actual ‘judgment day’, because we know the truth each and every day about who we are, what we need, what we aren’t getting, what we can do better at, or what we’re failing miserably at. And typically, we also see our strengths, but if there’s too much in that first list that needs addressing, our strengths remain somewhat out of view.

The last 20 years of my life, and most importantly, the last 10, have been my university years. I’ve slowly let go of the nonsense, focused and honed my understanding of what and who is really important to me, and held myself accountable for my mistakes by working to change what I’m capable of changing, which has turned out to be A LOT. I treat myself with loving care each and every day, and that same love I have had for others all my life I now bestow upon myself.

I have forgiven myself for my misfortunes and failures, making room for a celebration of what I’ve done such a damn good job at. I say that not to brag about myself, but to encourage anyone reading this to pull their own list out. There’s no way you don’t have a very long list of “damned good at.”

If at 70 I’m not celebrating my triumphs, when am I thinking I’ll get around to that?

The image from a card my dear friend Julie gave me years ago.

Eighty is just around the next bend. I’m still limber (thank you, YOGA), so now is the time to raise my arms to the sky celebrating my life today, here, now.

In the end, it’s about who you’ve loved, who has loved you back, and what you offered on your journey in terms of human kindness.

Cheers to me, and cheers to you, dear readers.

There’s more to say, so we’ll talk a bit more in the weeks to come.