Aging My Way
I’m not sure where I came across the term aging gracefully, but it resounded with me, and I’ve been using it as a theme for some of my recent blogs. But this morning it dawned me I’ve never been graceful in anything I’ve ever done in my life.
And as I recognize this truth, the words of Dylan Thomas begin to float into my head: “Do not go gently into that good night.”
I’m a klutz with foot-in-the-mouth disease who is constantly having to pick herself up and backtrack and start over again. I also favor shorts and cargo pants with colorful T-shirts instead of flowing garments that give the appearance of graceful movements.
I’m prone to stubbornness, enthusiastic loudness and wanting to continue doing things my way even when better ways are suggested. I’m not easy. But I’ve come to accept these things about myself and am grateful for friends and family who love me anyway.
On the positive side, I have a big heart, accept people in the same way I want to be accepted, am almost always upbeat and, as you all should know by now, I’m all about finding silver linings when things don’t go my way.
And just as I fought to live life my way, that’s what I’m doing now. At 83, I’m aging my way – and there’s nothing graceful about it.
Pat Bean is a retired award-winning journalist who lives in Tucson with her canine companion, Scamp. She is an avid reader, the author of Travels with Maggie available on Amazon (Free on Kindle Unlimited), is always searching for life’s silver lining, and these days aging her way – and that’s not gracefully.
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