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Up Close and Personal
~~ Talking About Aging ~~
As we age, we take with us all the things our life consisted of through the years. May L. Becker said, "it all when she said, " We grow neither better or worse as we get older, but more like ourselves." If we are a bitter or angry adult, those feelings will become more intense as we age. We may be able to hide our true self, (See That's Life for the poem, Masks) but those feelings, in many cases, have a tendency to surface with age. If we don't particularly like who we are now, hard work to change our life stylechange our hearts or change our minds, or maybe all three, will make us winners as we growchange our hearts or change our minds, or maybe all three, will make us
Would you agree that it's easy to sum these characteristics up in the word, Attitude? And most of us would probably agree attitude comes from within. We determine our attitude. We have a tendency to blame others, circumstances or events for things that happen to us. But the key is our response to those things or people. Thomas Wood-Young from Wood Young Consulting Firm says, "There seem to be two kinds of people; those who take responsibility for their lives and those who blame others. People who take responsibility for their situations are positive people who see the world as a good place. They have made the conscious decision to be this way." They have taken control of their mental attitude.
About the only thing we can really control in our world is our attitude. That comes through training our mind. Tons of research says our mind is voice activated, with our own voice having the greatest influence on our lives. In other words, we have a built in tool to help us enjoy life and age gracefully. The words you say each day can change your life for better or worse. Tell yourself you are worn out, your mind will accomodate you. Tell yourself you are getting old, your mind will agree. Instead tell yourself you feel good, say it out loud. Tell yourself you love your life, your job, your husband, your home. Tell yourself life is good, that you are in the process of being all you ever wanted to be. Then make it happen! Our mind believes what we tell it! Don't believe me? Research it for yourself! I love a quote from the Italian film actress, Sophia Loren who said, "There is a fountation of youth: It is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age."
Having elaborated on the subject of our mind set and the aging process, it's important to recognize that life gives some people greater challenges than others. Some have physical ailments to contend with through life. Others have mental debilitations. Woe be to us if we judge them! In my opinion, we each have a full time job working on our own attitudes and short comings. Our part is to be an example for others through what we learn, especially our children. We can show them how to age wisely. We can show them how to be a helping hand to someone who is down and out, not aging well. We are here to help each other along the way of life, all the while keeping our mind set refreshed with optimism and a passions for life, even down to the end.
"One of the most important phases of maturing is that of growth from self-centering to an understanding relationship of others. A person is not mature until he has both the ability and a willingness to see himself as one among others
and to do unto those others as he would have them do to him."
Harry A. Overstreet
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