Aging with Grace

My late friend Jeanne once suggested “aging with grace” as a blog post topic. It didn’t excite me then. Now, reminded of her in an unrelated context, I’m ready to give it a try. What does “aging with grace” mean, anyway?

Elders who smile are certainly pleasanter to be with than elders who whine about inevitable losses or “rage, rage against the dying of the light.” But that misses the point. One grace of age is the freedom to disappoint others’ expectations. I find grace in these surprising gifts of getting older:

Forget about embarrassment and shame. What other people think of me is none of my business.
Set clear personal priorities. Time and stamina are finite. Feel free to say no, without explanation or excuses.
Take pleasure in small things. Squirrels outside the kitchen window entertain as they chase each other round the oak.
Live more in the present. The old job interview question, “Where do you see yourself in five years,” means less and less. What brings you satisfaction now?

Image: Photo by Bruno Aguirre on Unsplash.