Aging with grace
The definition of Art that has resonated with me the most over the years is ‘Art is to make special.’ If that is true, then it is possible to live an artful life by making the little, simple things special. Often it’s in how we look at things. I've decided to be intentional about writing some posts dedicated to making everyday things special by finding ‘Art in real life.’
I went for a walk this morning and was inspired to write about giving ourselves grace as we age. Then I sat down to write, but felt more inspired to take a nap instead…
Before I entered the youth of old age, and drove to work each morning, sometimes I would get behind an older person who was going slow. It made me wonder about aging. Why do people tend to drive slow when they get older? After all they have less and less time left to live. Shouldn’t they be speeding up instead? Clearly they knew or experienced something I hadn’t.
I used to be more productive, making my lists and feeling fulfilled as I checked the ‘done’ boxes. I still get things done, but not as much and not as fast. Now I’m wondering if I’m learning what the elderly person driving in front of me knew.
It’s going to be okay, and when a task or project is accomplished, no one is going to know or care how long it took me. It’s the journey that matters, and living in the moment. In lots of cases doing something safely, therefore more slowly, is important too.
About 15 years ago when we were slowly working on our backyard, I came home from teaching, turned on the music and built a labyrinth out of bricks in our graveled courtyard. It took me awhile, but I was determined to finish and not feel rushed to get it done. That was a challenge for me, but it got done, and I enjoyed doing it. People have enjoyed it for all these years, walking it, running it (our grandsons), and a place to gather around the fire.
A labyrinth is different than a maze even though they look similar. A labyrinth doesn’t have any dead ends like a maze does. You walk a single way into the center and then walk the way back out, even though there are twists and turns where it seems like it is not going in the direction intended - reflecting life.
Now I’m doing a similar thing of moving stones in an area near the entry of our new home - just a few small loads each day in the wheelbarrow. I’m looking at is as my weightlifting program. It will be nice when it is done, but I’m being intentional to enjoy the process and count the benefits: It keeps me moving.
That brings me to another quote on aging full of simple wisdom and truth. Years ago our friend George shared his key to living young while growing older: “Just keep moving.”
When I feel like I’m moving too slow and not getting as much done as I think I should I remind myself to give grace and just keep moving forward.
On another walk I stopped to watch a little creature on its journey. Sometimes the smallest ordinary things hold the most important lessons - if I stop to look and listen...
Life lessons are everywhere…
Even a small journey can be epic.