This week I
took a redeye flight from Los Angeles back to Savannah. I used to love the
redeye; flying late and arriving early allowed me to make the most of a full
day.
I thrived on
only 4 hours of sleep and the flight allowed me just that. A few days ago, I
discovered that a redeye is no longer in my comfort zone. I woke up with a migraine
and felt like I couldn’t move.
I laughed to
myself as I thought of how quickly things had changed. A few days before, I got
into a sports car like the one I had before I got my children. I had ridden the
two-seater as long as I could before I had to get a nice roomy van.
When I got
in that sports car, I thought back to my life before I took on the
responsibility of 5 children. I recalled how unattached I was; how I could pick
up at a moment’s notice and travel the globe when I wanted to.
After a few
moments of looking back, I decided to get out of the car but I had a hard time
doing so. I laughed so hard that when I finally rolled out of the car, I had
the revelation I needed.
My life before children was
wonderful, but now it’s better. When I was younger, I was amazing and now I am
down-right marvelous.
Getting older can be hard or it can
be wonderful. You
can resist the change and look ridiculous or you can embrace the joy of knowing
that you are still here. If you ain’t
dead you ain’t done.
You still have lessons to learn and
wisdom to pass on.
I hear folks
who talk about being old before they even get there and I know some who try to
ignore the subtle nudges of time acting as if their jeans are not too tight,
their heels not too high.
Life has a
way of reminding us of who we are and where we need to be. Take care of your
temple and it will take care of you.
I’m 52 but I
tell folks that I’m 60--- I get more compliments.
Take in the good of your youth, your
age, your ability to move and celebrate the fact that you are here, now.
Be well, be
wise, be good.
Bertice
Berry, PhD.
No comments:
Post a Comment