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Today's
Meditation:
Age really is in our attitude more than it's in our
body. While our bodies do age, there is a huge
difference between aging and "growing
old." An old person has lost his or her zest
for life, has lost the will to do new things, to
experiment and explore, to take risks and to feel
enthusiasm. Unfortunately, there are many,
many old people in the world, and fewer people who have
aged gracefully and who are able still to enjoy life and
to appreciate the great things about life.
I know a woman in her 70's who talks a lot about her past,
and who talks a lot about how unfair life has been to her,
how hard she's had things, how bad she feels now with all
her aches and pains. I've gone for many walks with
her, and never do I hear her point out something that
impresses her as being beautiful. She sees things,
but if she's capable of recognizing and appreciating
beauty she's unable or unwilling to express that
appreciation. She never seems to be happy, as her
focus always seems to be on the past that was and that
never was. When I'm with her, I feel that I'm with
an old woman.
I know another woman of about the same age who is a joy to
be with because she finds joy in all the things around
her. She constantly points out beautiful flowers and
skies and trees and birds, and she seems to take great joy
in life. I've never heard her talk about some of the
difficulties in her past, and I've never heard her
complain of her lot in life, even though she does
experience pain from a condition of hers. To
her, though, the pain is just pain, and no reason not to
still appreciate the beautiful world that surrounds
her. When I'm with her, I don't recognize her age at
all-- it's just fun to be with her.
Our ability to see beauty is part of our attitude, and
something that we definitely can work to improve and
control. If we want to grow old, we can do so-- but
it seems much better to age gracefully and become an elder
who can help others to see the beauty of this world, as
opposed to an old person who has let the world get to them
as they've aged.
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