The years teach much which the days never knew.  ~Ralph Waldo Emerson

As we grow old, a wisdom that comes with age pulses through our veins helping us tune into the life experiences that have combined to deliver us to this point in time. Though the shear number of candles may overwhelm our birthday cake, we are a summary of all that has happened to us over these years. As realists, we accept that we cannot go back to adjust the past but hopefully have learned to appreciate what we have had and remain optimistic about the future. For some, our golden years are in fact a time to let our natural coolness shine.

All seniors worthy of their white hair understand that things change and we need to go with the flow, take the good with the bad, grin and bear it, suck it up. We get it. Aging is what it is for better or worse, a road always taken. And to enjoy our journey to the max it helps if we focus on the positive, live in the moment, and be appreciative. In other words, don’t take it for granted.

It all used to be so easy

Not so very long ago we were young, strong, positive, quick, fearless, and happy. But an unexpected bump in the road lay ahead, a reality check that only those north of middle-age can relate to. We took it for granted that the way it was today is the way it would always be. Quickly we learned that the only thing constant is change! The reality is that only after weathering these events did we really understand what we had and appreciate what we now miss. If we learned anything, it is how easy the little things can be taken for granted.

Bending down to pick up a quarter using your knees or your back – in the “old days” it didn’t matter which option you chose since both worked!

I can see clearly now – a sign down the road quickly deciphered, a book held at a natural distance  rather than fully extended at arms length or touching the tip of your nose, clipping your nails without guessing just how close you are trimming, accurately identifying that distant furry creature as a cat, not a dog, blurry vision only experienced the day after a little overindulgence.

Music to my ears – ahh the joy of hearing clearly, understanding conversations without straining, responding to the first knock at the door rather than the third or fourth, TV at a volume that does not drive all other living creatures from the room, birds in the morning, breezes rattling  through branches at night.

Calm, peace of mind I think comes with age. As we survive we grow and little things that would peeve us are now just minor annoyances.  We  no longer feel the need to rush from place to place but instead savor the journey. Our senses need not be inundated with a constant stream of noise (aka music, news, etc.) as we are content in silence.

Appreciation – a thank you comes easily and naturally, we choose to praise rather than deride, sharp words are consciously dulled as we realize the impact what we say can have.

Are we automatically wiser due to our advanced age? Wishful thinking. Do we really know it all just because we are old? Not likely. Or have we just come to accept life’s little challenges as the nuisances they are, gnats in our garden that we do not obsess with. Acceptance of ourselves and the world around us is true wisdom.

What we cannot change we learn to accept and what we can change we strive to do so.

Most importantly all we have experienced we appreciate and the lives we are blessed to live we grow to accept.

Don’t take it for granted just take it!