|
Page 2 of 2 And it has made all the difference. Ego-based thinking is really at the heart of the age-old dilemma (excuse the pun) of how to grow old gracefully. Ego demands that we maintain the shell of our bodies and preserve its looks so that no one will know our true age. Botox smiles, plastic surgery and weight loss through medicine are examples of what happens when the ego’s desires are commercialized. But we know deep down inside that focus on our external appearance will not preserve our dignity in the end. Everyone talks about how to stay fit, look younger and feel more energetic. But where are the guidebooks on how to age gracefully – from the inside out? That mystery is left to the individual to unravel. Age sharpens the tangle of conflict between our life expectancy and the fear that our deepest desires will go unfulfilled. Connection to yourself and your life purpose becomes the dominant theme that plays underneath the surface of daily life. I have found that time devoted to mediation, being still and just absorbing the sounds of nature is time well spent. The business of modern life still remains – I just get off the carousel ride every morning. As my inner world develops and strengthens, my outer world reflects those changes. When I am more peaceful and loving, those around me react differently. When I do not take offense so quickly, others feel more comfortable with me. My outer world reflects the state of my inner life. Instead of changing the things that surround me, I focus on changing what really matters – myself. Connection to myself has been the missing link to creating my joyful life. The answers to my questions do not lie out there – they wait patiently inside for me to discover. The day that I realized that I am always connected to the One Source that connects all living things is the day that I started living my life. The year displayed on my driver’s license has become just a number. It does not define who I am or who I will become. Age may be the great connector, but only I can choose how it defines me. And I am just getting started!
|
