That’s my mom, Lorraine, on the right and my daughter Ani with her precious little armful of a niece.
Hello friends– I spent the weekend with my mom. At 84 she’s still bright and intrepid. We drove up the state to San Francisco so she could meet her newest great grand-boy. I can’t say how much I love and admire her. She’s aged so gracefully.
It made me think back on this list I had started earlier– about aging well. It seems easy to become one of those grumbly little old ladies. But I’d rather be one of the bright and vibrant kind. So here’s my current list to help me through my 60’s and beyond…
Twelve ideas (more suggestions that rules) to help me “Age Well.”
1. Eat a little more healthily than I would want to (more lima beans, less chocolate cake?!).
2. Stay active– even my puny little morning exercise gets the day going.
3. Befriend younger people– You have a lot to give them and they keep you young.
4. Continue to be productive every day–bake a cake, write a poem, paint a picture, stitch a quilt, plant a garden, write a letter…
5. Read widely –and keep on talking over those books with Jenni & the Lit Group
6. Pray– for my kids, for friends, for people afar who I don’t even know, quiet my soul every day before God and honor him.
7. Make plans, Big plans!! (right Laurel?)– travels, adventures, house projects, days with friends… Fill all those days and years.
8. Forgive completely– choose grace and love and joy over bitterness.
9. Use the gifts God gives (baking, growing flowers, reading to children, organizing, taking all those photos, teaching???) and use them to care for other people.
10. Always show more and more kindness to the people I love in what I do, in what I say.
11. Be open to change (this one is hardest for me).
12. Know and love God more with each passing day, find my rest in him.
Here’s a quote I’ve posted before– Edith Wharton, on living intentionally, living well into an old age. A lot of wisdom:
“In spite of illness, in spite even of the arch-enemy sorrow, one can remain alive long past the usual date of disintegration if one is unafraid of change, insatiable in intellectual curiosity, interested in big things, and happy in small ones.”
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.” Psalm 90:12
P.S.– and thank you Alexa for the photo. You summon up the most tender, brilliant portarits. And especially love this one.
The Thankful Heart 