Yesterday, I was talking to a dear friend of mine. Strangely, both our lives have gone through some similar sort of experiences. Recently, we both have had sadly unfortunate incidents happen in our families, and one statement she made was something to the effect that as we grow older, we not only have to deal with old age in our own lives and our own families, but have to deal with it and the many sad fall-outs in our extended families as well. It is so true, and, worse, we seem so dreadfully unprepared and ill-equipped to handle this. Every stage of our lives is challenging, but somehow, as we grow older, the frailty of our bodies seems to seep into our minds. I had read somewhere long ago, that our whole lives have to be a preparation for when we grow old, and in the light of today, it almost rings true! I guess, this is another life skill that we all have to learn, because old age is when we need all our mental, physical and emotional strength. I've also been deeply influenced by thinkers who say that old age is the best stage of life. It is the culmination of years of study and hard work, and should now be a life of reflection and relaxation. It should also be a time when instead of losing our grip over life, we should grasp it more firmly, do as much as health and situation dictate, continue learning, be engaging, and take an interest in all that happens around us. Having gone through all of life's myriad experiences, we are in a position when we can actually laugh at the vagaries of life, and look at the world around us with compassion and kindness. Truly, nothing is perfect, nothing is permanent, and nothing is finished--we and everything and everyone around us is a work-in-progress...
What we do have to guard against, and fiercely so, is,
---to shove our wisdom down the throats of the young - let them make their mistakes. We can, if they ask us, share our experiences, at best. But, we must never tell them what to do. We need to be their safety net or better still their trampoline...
---being judgmental, thinking that we have the benefit of our years, and our experiences...
---pontificating. We must never think that anyone is interested in our opinions and thoughts...
---being a bore...
What we need to do is,
---to wear purple with a red hat even if it doesn't suit us, but only because we love the combination...
---put a flower in a wine glass, wear satin sandals, light an incense stick, set out some candles, pour a fav drink, curl up on a 'fatty'sofa and watch Mama Mia when the going gets rough, and the waves of sadness, and past thoughts threaten to engulf...
---dance...
---walk in the rain...
---and forget the sobriety and rigidity of youth...