One morning last week, I was out on my deck for prayer and
meditation when for some reason, I began to notice all the aging things around me. (With a birthday around the corner, perhaps aging was on my mind.)
We have a lot of dried, curled up leaves on our deck as autumn approaches. We clean them up, but then a day later, they’re all over everything again. We’ll let it go for a few days before blowing them away once more.
My attention turned from the leaves toward our outdoor furniture. We have some older chairs that are rusted at the bottom. They have a matching foot rest, with fabric that is frayed and hanging down loosely in a few places, making a great hiding place for kitties.
Our outdoor clock has definitely seen better days. The face is rusting so much that a few of the numbers are barely visible. Its wicker frame has been tattered and tossed about by more than a few storms, but it still works and has so much character.
As time and life have their way with us, we develop our own unique marks, curves and lines. Our hair changes colors (and/or falls out). We gain spots, dots and dimples. We age uniquely, adding character and interest.
My college roommate and friend of thirty plus years is here visiting, and we always laugh at how we’ve changed. We do our best to stay fit, but aging happens to us all. Well, to the lucky ones. Aging is a privilege.
Our acquired beauty marks are signs of character and they indicate that we’re winning the battle. Because if we’re still on the battlefield, we are winning.
With battle scars and beauty marks, the lucky ones march along with time, counting the gifts and racking up the lessons. Although wisdom isn’t visible, it’s another beautiful part of aging.
Some of us may be battle weary. Hold on. The reserves will come. Perhaps there is a lesson about rest still ready to be received and applied?
I still struggle with too much busyness. For me, it’s a constant battle to lay everything down and be willing to be still and just rest. However, I’m using new approaches to life balance lately and seeing some fruit. We are never too old to change.
Today, I celebrate each one of us. Let’s embrace our real beauty marks, the ones that we have earned. They add to our uniqueness and make us more interesting. Perfection is a bit boring anyway, don’t you think?
Take a look in the mirror and let yourself appreciate how beautiful, special, and one of a kind you are. Shake what you got, move what you can, and let out a big Woo Hoo! (If you need some guidance, refer back to April 1 in my book about doing a good, loud Happy Dance.)
