Growing Old Gracefully

What does that mean? It may conjure images of well-groomed “senior” men and women, tastefully attired, attending appropriate social gatherings, benignly engaged in oh-so civil discourse with others of their ilk. 

Well, that’s really not for me. 

I’ve seen a lot of those type of social gatherings over the years, and respectfully duck as many as possible. Likely as a consequence,as well as for other reasons, I’m invited to attend them less and less frequently. Thank you, Lord!

This vision reminds me of some wonderful lines from Cat Steven’s well-known song, Hard- Headed Woman, of decades ago: 

I’ve known me a lot of fancy dancers,

People who can glide you on the floor,

They dance so smooth, but have no answers,

When you ask them, “Why’d you come here for?” 

So, what’s the point? 

To me, at least, it’s about purpose and pursuing that purpose fully as long as you can. 

It really doesn’t matter what that purpose is, so long as it has value by contributing to others.

It doesn’t matter how many others are pursuing it, where you pursue it, or how much (or little) recognition you get for pursuing it. Invariably, the people I have known to be the happiest and most fulfilled are those who truly enjoy contributing outside of self.  

In essence, having such purpose, is the gift that we give to ourselves. It’s not about feeling noble or continuing forever. We all recognize that at some point body parts wear out and slow us down. But those folks who fade while making a positive difference to others - in their own way - come out on top.

In my opinion, that’s what grace is all about.