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I’ve arrived at that ambiguous age where people tack on a little qualifier when they say something about you, to you–
You look good for your age…
Your wrinkles aren’t bad for your age…
You’re exercising as well as you can for your age…
A lot of people have insomnia at your age…
At your age, just about everyone looks all over the house for their glasses and finds them on their head.
There are certain things cliched by age and I’ve noticed myself snarling more than just a little sometimes when I slip my foot into that tattered shoe and it fits. One morning you wake up bright-eyed and bushy-tailed and the next day you feel like someone took a bat to your spine while you slept.
A big wallop of What the heck?
But here’s the thing I’m happy to share when your body begins to betray you and you feel the weight of your years:
Age is gain and not loss.
Age is gain and not loss.
Repeat this phrase until you believe it.
I love how Jean Fleming in her fantastical little book Pursue the Intentional Life altered the way I view my own body’s betrayals: they’re a reminder this world is only temporary. Signs of aging point to eternity in that my current body is perishable but the one to come is not.
It blows my mind and I can’t think about it too much, the same way I can’t look at the sun for long. Its incendiary.
Don’t fall into the sinkhole that believes already having lived more years than you have remaining is “less than.” Instead consider the accumulation of those years and all they represent. Value your experience and experiences as wisdom builders and memory makers.
Look back at 30 and acknowledge all you learned since 20. Think about 40 and all the milestones realized since 30. Celebrate 50 by regarding the highs, and yes, even the lows, of your 40s. Consider the relationships you’ve made during each decade, the people you’ve met and your mutual impact to one another.
I’ve said it before and I believe it with all my heart:
Age is the price we pay for life and it’s not a privilege everyone has.
I love how Madeleine L’Engle says it–
“The great thing about getting older is that you don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.”
She gets it. Age is gain and not loss…not in the ways that matter most, anyway.
Which, at my age, is important to remember.
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Robin,
Loved this “I view my own body’s betrayals: they’re a reminder this world is only temporary. Signs of aging point to eternity in that my current body is perishable but the one to come is not.” This is so very true. Right now-at my age I’m watching my dad slowly decline (he’ll be 90 in September if he makes it). I also realize he is that much closer to Heaven than I am. He will then be reunited with my mom.
At my age I am blessed beyond measure to be able to stay home and help take care of him. Handle the dementia issues, doctor visits, etc. God has truly blessed me! Ten years ago I would not be handling this as well as I am now.
With age comes wisdom and knowledge that no one can take away!
Blessings 🙂
Your last sentence, Beth? AAAAAAmen! Also? What a lovely ministry to your father. I know it’s not easy, but it’s precious.
“…You don’t lose all the other ages you’ve been.” Love that. Those ages are carried with you in wisdom.
Thanks for sharing, Robin. 🙂
Thank you for reading to the end, Brenda 😉 :).
Hello Robin
Every time you mention Jean Fleming I couldn’t agree with you more. I soo love her walk-along-with-me book “Pursuing the Intentional Life.”
Maybe you could share some of the practical helps you may be finding for this season of life. Like sleeping to the sound and coolness of a box fan. Any recipes for the nutri bullet for wellness/energy…
Enjoy your blog, thank you for sharing
Jamie
Ahhhh, Jamie…thanks for giving me some inspiration for future posts!! ALL your ideas are great seed for thought!
Beautiful truth 🙂
Thanks for this reminder and wisdom today, Robin. I need it as I celebrate my (how can it be?) 60th birthday today.
Happy Birthday, Subi! Forty years here, and I just wrote about whether or not to bite the bullet and stop coloring my hair:) I love this post, though, especially “Signs of aging point to eternity in that my current body is perishable but the one to come is not.” I agree that it is hard to dwell on such eternal concepts; our brains simply cannot contain them, yet another proof for the existence of God. Also, I found it encouraging to read that we hold all of our ages within us. Perhaps that is why I still feel like a young girl living in a grown woman’s body! Intriguing . . .
Aimee,
So glad you stopped in to read, encourage Subi…and me! I’ve debating not coloring my hair, but it’s a thing that makes me happy and feel good about myself. I’m not trying to be younger; I happen to like the way it looks.
And much like you, there’s a girl living inside this growing-older-everyday body of mine. I’m choosing to celebrate all of life, because every day is its own cause for celebration, ya know?
Subi!!!!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! “Round” birthdays are SPECIAL and I’m over here in Macon, GA happy dancin’ on your behalf. A day late, maybe, but with all the gusto I can muster :D.