How do you feel about getting older? For some of us, it’s an exciting time. It feels like we have more freedom to do the things we want to do. We get more free or discounted things because of our age. Many of us are retired and have more free time. Some of us have these darling little things called grandchildren that warm our hearts. We are wiser. We have friends and relatives that have passed on, so we celebrate that we are still here.
Some of us feel quite challenged by the number that denotes the amount of years we’ve been on this planet. Some of us shy away from telling anyone our age for fear that they will judge us, similarly to the way we judge ourselves for no longer being or looking like we are 40. Think about the fact that your children, whether it’s your biological child or not, as a baby, is the most adorable creature you can imagine. As they get older, from elementary school to higher education and into adulthood, they physically change. Regardless of whether that physical change is for the better or not, you love them unconditionally, just the same, if not more. We don’t judge them with expectations that they should forever look like they did when they were babies. Even if your child has something like severe scarring acne that affects how they look, you don’t love them less because of it. So why do we shun ourselves when our physical appearance changes as planned by the creator? And why do we allow the judgment of others to affect how we feel about ourselves? Think about that for a minute.
How much sweeter life could be if we loved ourselves unconditionally the way we love our loved ones. What if you were one of your loved ones? How would your life be different if you continued to love yourself more, despite the fact that your appearance is changing? How would it feel to be in love with yourself just because you are you? What if you were proud of the person you are now, even if everything didn’t turn out the way you planned it? I hope this is how you feel. But if you are distracted from loving yourself because you are busy analyzing every wrinkle and dark spot on your face, I encourage you to look deeper into the mirror at what lies within you.
People are attracted to you by your inner light. Your physical beauty is nice, but if you do not love yourself fully, no matter how beautiful you are on the outside, you are repelling a deeper connection with many. And more importantly, it is very difficult to truly enjoy your life if you are not loving yourself.
I know that if you take the time to review all that you have done and experienced in the last 50, 60, 70, 80+ years, you will find that there is so much here for you to celebrate and be grateful for. You have earned the right to stop judging yourself and celebrate this gift of life.
You may be thinking, “that’s easy for your to say, Renee.” Let me make it clear, this is not easy for me either. I have the same challenges you have. I struggle with some of the same thoughts and fears that you do. Almost every day, I have to make a conscious choice to love and appreciate myself just where I am. Even when I look in the mirror and see age staring back at me, or when I can’t remember something that should be so simple. It’s an on-going dilemma. Most of the time, I’m loving myself unconditionally, but there are those times when I fear that because I’m getting older I won’t be accepted or loved. That was the impetus for the birth of Awesome Aging. I saw that many of my friends were struggling too. So, you see, we are in this together. Please let me know your biggest challenges with aging and let’s grow through this together. And please share solutions that you have found helpful.