One of the biggest challenges of growing older isn’t the aches and pains, the slower gait, or the need to remember where we left our glasses (hint: on the top of your head).
Sometimes, our aging minds can play tricks on us if we allow ourselves to fixate on an adverse potential outcome in advance of a situation “before” we have all the facts.
This might involve a health issue we’re facing, a decision to downsize our homes, or maybe having to let go of our independence.
We’ve all seen how this kind of fear works: it races ahead of us, sketching out disastrous scenarios as the day turns into night. It results in what seems like an “endless” night, doesn’t it?
Faith, however, is a quieter companion. Faith doesn’t allow us to erase the full spectrum of the possibilities of the unknown that we’re consumed with. Rather it stays with us, side by side, like a good friend, allowing for those moments of peaceful contemplation to be added to the possibilities we’re considering.
Being of a certain age now can be of value to remind us that life has always had times of uncertainty…even when we thought we were invincible. Managing our lives and experiences when we were younger has gotten us through many storms. Weathering those storms has created a stronger sense of acceptance to allow for the outcome to be something that we can actually manage. There are still many joys and successes waiting for us.
Think of it this way…if you allow Fear to take the wheel, then that emotion might say…”brace yourself for a loss”.
Faith would counter with, “You’re not alone, you can navigate this issue and rise above the uneasiness that you’re feeling.”
Both of these voices will be present but only one of them can maintain the lead if we choose to allow it too.
Just maybe, these are the additional gifts of aging. Moving forward with grace allows for clarity to be a part of helping us to make decisions, much more easily, that are actually in our best interests.
Aging isn’t easy. Not in this fast paced world, to be sure.
Maintaining our dignity and being a part of the changes we’re facing with a degree of FAITH rather than FEAR should always be our first consideration, long before those choices become someone else's to make for us.
Maybe trusting the aging process is the real secret. Life has never offered us a full script in advance, has it?
“Fear knocked at the door. Faith answered.”
Fear imagines everything that can go wrong, while faith reminds us of everything that’s already gone right. Perhaps it’s time to “let go and let God!”
Pat Larsen, lives, works, plays and prays in Greene County, NY. She is a syndicated columnist and author of her well received 1st book,
“Reflections…anything but an ordinary life.”
pelarsen5@aol.com
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