The theme in this culture about the denial of aging. How were not supposed to talk directly about getting old. We can make jokes, sure, but were not supposed to actually point it out in any real sense ...its like in the early 60s, when people whispered the word cancer. As if, to say it out loud made it real. Well, they are real. Cancer and age and death. But, the thing is, aging, and yes, even death, are some of our most graceful Talismen. We are incredibly lucky we *get* to age. Its not a lamentation. So, so many are not afforded this gift. The denial, of course, is linked to our cultural fear of death, and our worshipping of youth. But, there is a beauty in the ripening of maturity, the wisdom and insight of age. Or, there is a bittersweet reckoning in not taking advantage of *dealing* with the gift of experience. The lifelong journey, if we realize that we are, in fact, going to die, gives us every opportunity to begin, again. Every moment. Every day, we can take the golden opportunity that aging is bestowing upon us. Becoming old is not to be shunned, it is to be gratefully received. We used to know this. We used to take the gift of it and return it to the younger, who have had no time, yet, to understand. If we would only return to cherishing this knowledge, to realizing our lives are a part of a larger cycle, we would give back the respect that aging deserves. And we wouldnt have to whisper about it.
Posted on: Tue, 13 May 2014 12:42:09 +0000
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