GROWING OLD GRACEFULLY - It is up to us to choose how we want to make our life worthwhile - All our frenzied activity while we’re younger is focused on getting old -- either preparing for retirement or avoiding the idea of getting old. We need to be wise in the way we plan for our future and we need to take care of ourselves, but if that is our only focus, we truly do miss out on the life we’ve been given now. Growing old gracefully is taking time to smell the roses. Take time to appreciate the air you breathe -- breathe in deeply and exhale all the toxins of the day’s stress. Take a walk in the park and talk to the ducks -- you might look crazy but the ducks will thank you! Go for coffee with a friend and take the time to listen -- you’ll hear their heart-words and it will make a difference. Spend extra time with your spouse and find ways to make them laugh -- that secret moment will be a wonderful memory shared by only the two of you. In and of themselves, these things don’t take a lot of time. The choices we make now will make a difference when we get old. Did I say that perhaps the most important thing to foster is a sense of humor? Well, it is... laughter does good, like a medicine. We need to learn how to laugh at ourselves, at life, and not let getting old get us down.

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Growing Old Gracefully

It is up to us to choose how
 we want to make our life worthwhile

Flo Belanger

The simple things...

Whatever happened to the idea of growing old gracefully?

Why do we fight against the inevitable? What do we have to gain, except perhaps an ulcer?

We stress and fuss about staying young, looking like we did at twenty, hiding all the gray hair, and taking whatever pills necessary to mask our aches and pains.

Where, in all of this, do we actually enjoy the present, or appreciate life as it is?

I, for one, want to grow old gracefully, which means I will grow old!

There, I’ve said it... I’m going to get old. I’m already halfway there!

What an achievement really, don’t you think?

I’ve survived many of life’s twists and turns and learned some wisdom along the way. I’ve got the gray hair to prove it.

This does not mean that I want to neglect my responsibility to try to live in such a way that growing old will be a more pleasant experience.

I breathe so my body has the oxygen it needs to function properly.

I try to eat the right foods that will keep me as healthy as possible. I get as much exercise as I am able.

And, I use my mind in as many ways as possible to keep it from slipping away into senility. At least I hope the last part is true!

I hear from a lot of people who are working too much, that they have no time for their spouse, children, grandchildren, personal interests, or their health.

They long for the day when they can retire so they will have time to do all these things. Why wait?

None of us can guarantee that we’ll even make it to retirement (and in all likelihood, if we continue the way we are, we won’t.)

What is the point in missing out on all these things now when we don’t even know if we’ll ever get the chance to do any of it later.

We won’t actually — the moments with our family, going on that trip, spending time with friends, pursuing a hobby — these moments, the ones today, we’ll never get a chance to live again.

Have you ever stopped to think that all our frenzied activity while we’re younger is focused on getting old -- either preparing for retirement (saving, planning, investing, etc.), or avoiding the idea of getting old (anti-aging products, plastic surgery, excessive exercise, etc.)

Yes, we need to be wise in the way we plan for our future and we need to take care of ourselves, but if that is our only focus, we truly do miss out on the life we’ve been given now.

I believe growing old gracefully is taking time to smell the roses.

Take time to appreciate the air you breathe -- breathe in deeply and exhale all the toxins of the day’s stress.

Take a walk in the park and talk to the ducks -- you might look crazy but the ducks will thank you!

Go for coffee with a friend and actually take the time to listen -- you’ll hear their heart-words and it will make a difference.

Spend extra time with your spouse and find ways to make them laugh -- that secret moment will be a wonderful memory shared by only the two of you.

In and of themselves, these things don’t take a lot of time. It is up to us to choose how we want to make our life worthwhile.

I want to look back on my life and know that people have had a better experience in life because of me.

Am I the kind of person that people want to forget, or are happy to remember?

Am I making the choices now that will make me a pleasant person when I get old, or will I end up being miserable?

The choices we make now will make a difference when we get old. So, what are those choices?

If our focus is only financial, we may end up rich and lonely.

If our focus is only our body, we will be sadly disgruntled when arthritis sets in and walking gets difficult.

If we focus on our attitude, we will be able to grow old gracefully and have a great time doing it!

Did I say that perhaps the most important thing to foster is a sense of humor?

Well, it is... laughter does good, like a medicine.

We need to learn how to laugh at ourselves, at life, and not let getting old get us down.

My name is Flo Belanger and I welcome you to Heart Rest. It is my desire that this will be a place where people can come for encouragement and be challenged to change things in their life that are not working, seek answers to some deeper issues, and find solutions that will make their life better.

I publish a new article once a week (Tuesday/Wednesday) and I hope that people will be able to take just a few minutes out of their day to read and think about what I’ve written. My prayer is that at some point something that I’ve written will touch your heart and encourage your soul.

I don’t claim to be an expert on anything really…I am simply sharing what I’ve learned through the years and the challenges that are encouraging me to go to a deeper level of learning in current situations. My desire is that we can process these things together and be encouraged to grow in our lives to be better people with a greater caring attitude toward each other.

I do have some training (for those who find this to be important). I started by getting a Bachelor’s degree in Biblical Studies and have continued through self-study and courses to improve upon that knowledge. While learning with our minds is important, it is how we apply what we’ve learned in everyday life that shows what really matters. I have worked with several non-profit organizations in different capacities ranging from employee to director on the Board, locally and nationally. I have worked in the self-publishing industry, entrepreneurial support, as well as one-on-one tutoring for people seeking re-assigned employment.

The most important thing in my life is my relationship with Jesus…His unconditional love and absolute truth influences how I see the world and how I interact with people. Whether you believe the way I do or not, I think we can all learn from each other and respect each other in whatever place we are in our journey of faith.

So, come join me on this adventure and let’s see where the path takes us!!

https://hubpages.com/health/The-Fallacies-of-the-Fountain-of-Youth

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