I Forgot I Was Old
Posted on Friday, June 5th, 2009
I finally figured it out. The reason I keep having so much fun is because…
I Forgot I Was Old
I’m not supposed to be waking up every morning planning when I’m going to ride my bike 12 miles today… I’m not supposed to be waking up every morning trying to figure out if I’m going to run to the seafood market today or decide how many wine glasses I should paint… I’m not supposed to be waking up every morning planning how many somersaults I can do in the pool with my granddaughter, or how many times I can withstand another challenge of some crazy new game my grandson has devised, but I’m here, doing just that. Planning another day of moments in my life that I should not be planning.
Every morning, I look in the mirror, just like my Gramma did, and say “Crap, I forgot I was old.” There are old people who accept their “oldness” every day of their old life. And then there are the people like my Gramma who were surprised every day of their lives that they had become old. I look at the lines on my face, the weirdness that is my neck, the shape and substance that is my physical being and I wonder, what the hell has happened to me?
But, underneath, I am muscle and sinew, strength and energy, love and laughter, and I think, hell, nothing’s changed in all these years. The reflection in the morning mirror may be changing, but not me. I am the same. I am young. My life is rich and wonderful.
My Gramma woke up every morning, until she was 86 years old, and looked at herself in the mirror and said “Oh crap, I forgot I was old.” Gramma, you were never old. You had the heart of a youngster – always laughing and finding something remarkable to share every day of your life.
I hope my grandchildren say the same thing about me.
p.s. To see more discussion created by this post, click on these links:
http://remarkablewrinklies.com/2008/its-good-to-be-invisible/
http://remarkablewrinklies.com/2009/despair-through-menopause-or-live-healthy-fit-and-sane/
Subscribe to RemarkableWrinklies.com by Email
Amen, momma. Amen great-grandma.
I AM a remarkable wrinkly-in-the-making — and PROUD of it!
I love you and I love all of the amazing women who preceded me.
((hugs)) to all … N
awwww… thank you Nik for sending out your love and hugs into the cosmos.
I just know our remarkable fore-mothers are sending their love and hugs back to us every day in many ways… ways we won’t know until we are with them again.
🙂
Our Grandmas, Mothers, and older Sisters were/are much too busy
to think of all the ways age had/has changed them. We should instead embrace getting older ,wiser , and to some ,more beautiful!!!!
Thank you all for being such good “teachers”.
You have this aging thing nailed, Christine! Could that be because you recently “joined the club”????
😉
Seriously, you are right about being too busy to dwell on such foolish things as aging. Remember… days are long but years are short. We can’t waste a minute of time, because we won’t get it back.
I sure appreciate your comment and thank you, too, for being a good teacher and for making the world a better, more beautiful, and fun place!
It is so very important to keep moving that’s for sure. I have an illness that hits me from time to time and I have to pull way back on things I like to do. It is always a relief when it passes and I can once again get back into doing my crafts and my exercise bike. At my age, I am not concerned about what my behind looks like, but I do like feeling good, so that is why I exercise.
It is important to keep your spiritual life strong too. We are, what we think about. After all, every thing we do begins as a though. So, keep those thoughts on the good things in your life. I read my Bible to give me comfort and a sense of my place in this world. I realize that not all people are inspired that way though, but do try to make a connection to the Earth, with plants or flowers, get outside a lot, enjoy the fresh air and Sunshine. Don’t go from office to home to bed without ever seeing the Sunshine.
You said it, Eve!
There is nothing worse for your body and soul than to give in to the day-to-day grind. And I hear you about your comment concerning how your “behind” looks… I, too, exercise regularly because I want to feel strong and fit, not so much to look good in a new pair of jeans! When my legs and back are strong and I’m pedaling my bike just as fast as I possibly can, enjoying the wind and the sunshine, I know everything is alright with the world! As a matter of fact, it looks like the rain let up here… it may be time to go splash through some puddles!
Thanks for visiting me here and thank you for commenting!