“Know that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious, for you shall only live it once. Be comfortable with growing older.” – Louise Hay
Growing older has been weighing heavy on my mind of late, but NOT for the superficial reasons you may be suspecting.
Yes, my hair is going grey and isn’t quite as thick as it used to be.
Yes, it’s getting harder and harder to lose those pesky few pounds even with diet and exercise.
And after a day of intense yard work, my body now aches in places it never did before.
I’m willing to accept all that (okay, maybe not losing my hair) as typical signs of the aging process. But what I find myself struggling with is my own mortality, and the mortality of the woman I’ve loved dearly for the last 16 years.
Growing older simply
The other day, I was meandering through a home improvement store when I stumbled upon an older couple. They were probably in their 70’s and were trying to figure out what kind of dishwasher to buy. I watched them as they went from one unit to the other, conversing back and forth over options, pricing and reliability.
As I made my way down the electrical aisle, I found myself growing emotional – a feeling definitely NOT caused by the conduit, wiring and switch plates all around me.
This simple moment of looking for a dishwasher reminded me of a quote by Jonathan Lockwood Huie: “The essence of life is not in the great victories and grand failures, but in the simple joys.”
And far too often, it’s the simple joys in a relationship that we take for granted – that we dismiss as meaningless and even mundane.
But during all of those simplistic experiences life is happening and love is being nurtured and shared – further solidifying the intense connection that brought your hearts together in the first place.
What would make you feel younger?
So, while many will try and fight growing older with hair dye, surgery, a new wardrobe and a slew of other materialistic possessions aimed at making one feel younger, what would make ME feel younger is more time.
More time to enjoy the simple moments of life with the woman who brings such meaning to each and every day. After all, time is not infinite and health and wellness are not guaranteed regardless of your lifestyle.
I end this post with an incredibly profound quote from A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton:
“I will love you always. When this red hair is white, I will still love you. When the smooth softness of youth is replaced by the delicate softness of age, I will still want to touch your skin. When your face is full of the lines of every smile you have ever smiled, of every surprise I have seen flash through your eyes, when every tear you have ever cried has left its mark upon your face, I will treasure you all the more, because I was there to see it all.”
