Musings on Maturity, with a Sense of Creativity

"Maturing is for the courageous and lighthearted. To age with wholesomeness and health, we need to be scrupulous about laughing, loving, exercising, healthy eating, and being mentally stimulated." --Suzanne Kyra

In the big picture, our time on Earth is brief. Avoiding this awareness is avoiding life. The maturing process shows us that life’s journey, if we accept it, ultimately takes us to a place of peace with what is, and joy in what we find meaningful. Maturing demands that we accept what we cannot change, and care for the things we can change. This means that we let in courage, acceptance, and patience. Each step in the maturing process brings new challenges and even greater opportunities for personal expansion and intimacy, continually giving us the choice to embrace what really matters. The maturing process is the ultimate journey to wisdom and is not accessible to the young.

I Have Learned
... that maturing is challenging and rewarding when our needs are met, and physical and financial health is present. Ideally, we take advantage of our latter years by enjoying the wonderment of being alive, while contributing to ourselves and others through our wisdom, curiosity, creativity, and being an example of living well. As it is a challenging time of many losses and adaptations, it is also a relevant time to let go of regrets and inhibitions. If we have learned life’s lessons well, we become advisors and stewards for those following us, while avoiding the temptation to claim rights to their lives. Although our physical body shows signs of wear and fragility, when living in integrity, our internal world shows greater wisdom and beauty. Aging releases us more or less from the necessity of doing, while embracing more of the being in life. Ideally, it is the age of new interests, appreciating family and friends, reflection, philosophizing, and volunteering to help others. For some, this time can be reduced to mere survival. Nevertheless, the choice is always there to meet each challenge with graciousness and an open heart, while staying connected with others and ourselves.

Musings on Maturing, With a Sense of Creativity
Creativity, like maturing wisely, is looking at possibilities beyond what is. Who are the elders you most admire? How have those elders influenced you in your aging process? How do you honor the wisdom of growing old? How do you honor healthy living in your aging process? How do you show respect and support to the elderly in your community?

Encouragement
May maturing grace you with contentment, insight, wisdom , and generosity of heart. May you be able to have your needs met, and care for and inspire those following in your footsteps. Remember— maturing is the outcome of surviving the earlier stages of life.

My commitment to mature gracefully, while supporting others to do so as well, is ...

(The above is an excerpt from the award winning book, Welcome Home to Yourself.)