
One thing that is apparent. Aging is inevitable. Now, I have never been one to have issues with my age. Those that know me, have regularly heard me say “age is just a number”. Well, this is true! Age is just a number and how we feel, think, and act truly reflects our life age.
However, if that were the end of it….this would leave for a very short blog. As I personally creep closer to my 40th birthday, I can see how people can set themselves up for having a mid-life crisis. It has come to realization that some of my clients are 3x younger than I. Which really makes you start to wonder..where did the time go? What happened to the time that you were the young, fresh, light to the room? Now others are clearly younger, fresher, and clearly have a little more pep in their step. Or is that what we perceive it to be?
Age does have its benefits. Our life experience gives us a great reference library to assist us while we make our wisdomly advice to others. We also have gotten through our heighten hormonal years and know that the world is not over from one instant… we have time to process how we would like to seek things out. There is more opportunity for growth in establishing ourselves within our community and we have freedom to choose where we want our lives to play out.
I believe that sometimes we focus to much on what was instead of what is to be. If we are constantly caught looking backward, how are we ever supposed to move forward? Yes, we can’t re-due the past. There may even some remorse on courses’ of action that took place in your life decisions. However, what we aren’t honoring is the growth that it took you to get where you are now. We aren’t appreciating the life lessons to their entirety. Each of us have a path that is laid out in front of us….and yes, we choose this path. Even when you felt like you were stuck between a rock and a hard place, we still made choices to which got us where we are.
Regardless of how we feel on our current state, the question is where do we want to be? All of us have witnessed seniors in horrific shape regardless of their age. This is how we have a truly fit 80 year hold with tons of energy, and we can have an 80-year-old that looks like sudden death. These are the things that we should be paying attention to in our life to help us mentally prep for our condition. Do you want to be the old person that rolls around on the floor with your grandchildren? Or the one that can’t get off the floor? More importantly, we know that we can never fully predict where life is going to take us. On that note, we need to be prepared for the unexpected. The loved one that becomes sick and needs constant care. Family support that dissipates with time. The unexpected single life into retirement. Caring for a grandchild full-time. Life changes quickly in profoundly amazing ways, even during some traumatizing experiences. The only control we do have is of ourselves. I know that I want to be in a condition that is considered reliable for my kids and anyone that comes after. Therefore, I choose to take care of myself mind, body, and soul all year round. And that truly is the best birthday present anyone can ever give themselves. What’s yours?