When I was younger, I remember having certain opinions about what life would be like, as you got older. Most of those opinions, were formed by the people that I saw around me. I grew up in the countryside in Ireland and most people fed into this whole idea that ,when you get older, you would automatically become more frail.
As though you had no choice in it, it was just a part of growing old, a natural part of life. With most people just accepting their faith.
But as I got older, I began to understand that how we live our lives, is really up to us. We get to decide how we spend our days and whether or not we feed into these stereotypes, that are so prevalent in society today. Where it is widely accepted that most elderly people see out their last days in a nursing home.
To be honest, I don't blame people for giving up, when they are placed in these homes. I have worked in some of them and they are soul destroying. But usually there are certain thins that happen, to warrant some one ending up in there.
When I first became pregnant, I really expected to find myself in a position one day, where I would find it difficult to move about. Especially towards the end, when you supposedly unable to touch your toes. But I felt so energized and full of life, I also felt super healthy and enjoyed being very mobile. I never has any problems getting around, or needed any help doing things.
So if we were mislead about this, of course we could so easily be mislead into believing that old age, leads to frailty. But again this is all a choice.
We choose how we treat our bodies, what we consume, how active we are. If you make the decision to eat and live more consciously, then you are much more aware of your bodies needs and how to meet them. Of course our bodies, keep aging, but we learn how to listen and thus how to react.
I find it funny, that some people invest way more time and energy into their cars, than they do in their own personal vessel. Where does this disconnect come from, our health and well being, should always be a priority. If you do not look after yourself then of course your body and mind will both suffer. Everything is connected and if you neglect one, you neglect them both.
Old age does not mean that we have to become frail, indeed it should be about becoming wiser and more comfortable, within our own skin. With the loss of community down through the ages, especially in Western Society, most elderly people feel shunned upon, as though they are a burden.
When instead they hold a powerful wisdom within, that comes when you reach a certain age, like the crone, for females. But to be able to connect with that wisdom, they need to be able to stand in their power. Something that society really prevents, so many of us from reaching.
There really needs to be, a lot more understanding and respect between all ages. Where we each, see the value in one another. We need spaces where we all come together and listen to one another, to learn from one another. In order for any of us to respect others, we first need to respect ourselves and from here, with begin to grow a healthy relationship with our bodies, with our minds.
We begin to take responsibility for our own well being. I now live in a place, where people of all ages come together, where yes you may need to slow down a little as you age and get wiser, but you certainly do not become frail. Time is really a concept that is mostly in our heads, so we get to decide how we improve with age, to not focus on this idea that we have to give up certain things. But instead embrace our wiser selves and continue to do the things we love.