Age
In my mind today I’m thinking about growing up. I’m thinking that soon Sal will be a 1/2 a Century Gal. Every morning I read, read, and read some more. What stood out today was our milestones of growth.
I remember the old saying “Love is Wasted on the Young.” Why is this? I think it’s because we are living with abandon full of vim and vigor. We don’t slow down because hey we’ve got dates, places to go, and people to meet. When we traverse a few decades and take a breath we realize love is so precious and we should have cultivated much more of it and embraced it in our youth. We didn’t realize the fleetingness of our time.
Back row quit saying, “Too bad, so sad Ms. Alley. You are O-L-D!” The wonderful aspect of living is that it’s never too late to start embracing what we have in our precious, present moments. If we do this, then age becomes obsolete and definitely not wasted. The key is “wake up and smell the roses” of love. Embrace it. Nurture it. Help it flourish in your lives. Yes, back row right now.
I read the analogy that each of our lives is like an iceberg. Most people only see the tip poking up out of the water and there is a lot submerged that we conceal. Growing older is messy. We do want to submerge those less than lovely parts of our lives. A quote from Carl Jung I read from Hallelujah Anyway inspired me about how to deal with the “submerged messes” of our lives. The most painful issues can’t be solved—they can only be outgrown, but that takes time and deep work. Whew! That’s great news isn’t it? Students here’s the problem of the day: our modern culture wants quick fixes. For my older students, are you smarter, more accomplished today than when you were a teenager? I know I surely am. Thanks be to God!
Kudos for growing! Are you willing to do the work? Or would you rather stuff down your unattractive parts with pride, narcissism, drugs, shopping, pettiness, prejudice, or ignorance? Hiding that “stuff” is your biggest time waster and enemy. I know sixty year olds who still haven’t grown up. It’s truly sad. Here’s another quote from the book Hallelujah Anyway that really resounded with me: “There are so many ways for a life to go bad, for a person to end up permanently isolated, thwarted, blaming.” How can we help so many to make a change, see the light, or grow up? Then in the same novel by Anne Lamott this quote spoke volumes to be a healing balm of our cultural Gilead, “Polite inclusion is the gateway drug to mercy.” Kindness, love, forgiveness, and true friendship can truly flow from one person to the other. Those capable of polite inclusion are wise, old souls. They realize the importance of kindness in such a rushed, fractured culture. If you happen upon a friend, partner, or acquaintance like this, you are truly blessed. Learn from them. Seek their advice. Call on them in times of strife. They are the most needed drug to deal with those hurting in our world. Guess what? These types reveal the totality of their icebergs. They have outgrown their pride, pettiness, materialism, and prejudice. No matter your age, embrace it! Start living and enjoying your age whether you’re 13 or 83 years old. Don’t waste time wanting to go back or fast forward. This is only time you have kids! Embrace your age.
Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Old Sage Gal
Quotes of the Day:
“Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don’t wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it’s at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored.”
Earl Nightingale
“The time is always right to do what is right.”
MLK Jr.
“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.”
Leo Tolstoy
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