Thursday, August 23, 2007

The Gift Of Life....

The thoughts below were sent to me by and old and dear friend( Gail. ) We have known each other for many years and we are growing old together. We meant when she was 14 and I 16 and have been friends forever. In the month of August we went out to lunch to celebrate our birthdays and talk about the way it was and the way it is. We talk about our grandchildren while we remember our own children growing up. I do not know who wrote this, but please read carefully and if you are not over 60 yet....you will be one day.......and you have much to look forward to............because growing old is truly a gift from God.

Old Age, I decided, is a gift.


I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become more kind to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.
I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.
I have seen too many dear friends leave this world too soon; before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 AM and sleep until noon?
I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60&70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set.

They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.


I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.


So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day. (If I feel like it)

18 comments:

Sharon said...

Oh this is the most splendid post I have ever read. It describes me perfectly. Thanks for reminding us about life as it should be.

Sharon said...

Oh this is the most splendid post I have ever read. It describes me perfectly. Thanks for reminding us about life as it should be.

Sophie Honeysuckle said...

Oh I love reading things like this-I'll print this out, I think!!

smilnsigh said...

Oh Sharon Kay, this is a lovely entry. I'm sure you allow us to link to it {in your blog}, too. It speaks volumes!!!

Thank you for posting it and please thank your friend, for sending it to you.

Mari-Nanci

smilnsigh said...

And I did link to your entry... here. Without even waiting for your permission. But I'm sure you won't mind. :-)

Mari-Nanci

Laurie said...

Very nice post Sharon.
Sending you hugs and blessings for a wonderful weekend!

Tammy said...

Thanks for sharing this!
:)

Sheila said...

Sharon thank you for posting this. I really needed to be reminded.
hugs
xx

Sweet Cottage Dreams said...

Bravo! I love your attitude about growing old gracefully. LOL about jumping in the waves with abandon. I am 46, yet I can see the onset of changes starting to occur. I am my mother, as goes the old saying. Have her round behind, too. ha. As Anthony Hopkins said in Meet Joe Black, "sing with rapture and dance like a dervish." Have a great weekend! Becky

smilnsigh said...

Thank you so much for commenting that you can easily read my 'new more pale' look, on 'smilnsigh'.

Mari-Nanci

Amy said...

What a great collection of thoughts. We should all take it to heart.
Amy

Unknown said...

I love this! I turn 50 this January and I am already beginning to see that many of my parts don't stay where I put them! I am dealing with reading glasses-- joyful that there is still an opportunity to read. I can gently squeeze skin and leave an impression...

Yet, I am taking more ownership for who I am. I find myself not apologizing for who God made me to be. There is more liberty to be me and if a value is not placed on who I am or what I do, my worth is not altered by that opinion.

Thank you for an article I can definitely identify with!

Blessings, kj

Maggie Ann said...

Yes, being older now...is freedom. I enjoy it too...smile.

monique said...

This sure is a lovely post! Thanks for posting it.

Susie Q said...

Just such a wonderful and uplifting post dear Sharon Kay. I loved it.
Thank you!

Hugs,
Sue

Judypatooote said...

Oh yes, all I can say is AMEN.... I truly live by those words.... I do know that life is too short for some, and I never know when it might be my turn.....

HORIZON said...

l think women can be so beautiful in their later years- love the line about the 'etched grooves' in their faces- that is what is so beautiful about growing older- you become what you are at heart- those laughter lines grow deeper- your inside shows on the out.
There is also a verse in the bible about God looking on the heart while man looks on the outside. Lovely post Sharon.
xx

Marlene Depler said...

Ditto! I loved your thoughts on aging! So very true---and well said.

Teddy Bear


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