Growing Older Gracefully And/Or Happily
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My mind separates these two words or thoughts into equal
parts.
I visualize the happy part of
growing older as an inside attitude of all of us. Something felt from within; to be touched,
but not by the hand; enlarged with the passing of time and experience(s). Are we to assume that each of us will grow
older happily? Probably not. But, I’m of the firm belief that most of us
begin our lives at birth as happy babies and our attitudes change with our life
experiences depending on how we are raised, loved and treated along the
way. Some will encounter negative life-threatening
experiences that will change their attitudes; like loosing a parent or both parents
at a very early age; or an illness that sets them on a constant medical battle;
or even an accident that causes some physical and/or mental suffering. Without a good support system, prayer, peace, patience
and understanding, these issues could cause resentment, anger, lack of self
esteem, and a host of reasons for not wanting to live.
On the other hand, some of us will receive
positive reinforcement, encouraging us to pick up the pieces and go on the best
we can with our lives; squeezing from the bad, all the good we can possibly
hold in our hands and hearts; believing and having faith that we can and will
live happily ever after.
When I visualize the graceful part
of growing older, it conjures up a physical, rather than an inside attitude;
physical because everything can be seen on the outside. In relation to the way we dress and/or carry
ourselves – our walk could be considered graceful, or the way we put one foot
gracefully in front of the other, as well as the way we turn slowly to hear the
person next to us. We may also be
mannerly in social circles and speak eloquently about art and literature. These are ways in which we actually see
people from a physical standpoint.
From a personal point of view – I’m
geared toward growing older happily
as opposed to gracefully. I believe it is way too late for me to think
about the graceful aspect. My mother
always referred to me as “her happy child” and I wouldn’t want to disappoint
her at this late stage of the game by becoming too graceful.