Age is mind over matter

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An old friend sent me an article about growing old. A very good article indeed and I thought I should share some very good points from the article as well as some of my own views about growing old.

One fine evening when I was taking a stroll with my son around our neighbourhood, one of my neighbours, a retired “uncle” in his 70s saw us walking by his house. With all good intentions, he waved and said “Good evening Mr Shiek, taking your grandson for a walk?” Grandson? Hmmmm, do I look that old? Well, maybe I do look as though I should have grand kids. Was I offended? NO, not at all! I don’t mind actually.

“Uncle” or “Uncle Shiek” is what I am politely called now. In the next few years I will be hitting the big 5. I cannot deny I am getting old because when I see a beautiful young girl nowadays, I would say: “Wow, her mother must be very beautiful”. Get it?

I don’t mind that when I laugh I may show a lot more wrinkles and that my hairs have turned grey. I will never trade my wrinkles and grey hairs for anything. I have seen so many that have never ever laughed and died before their hairs turned grey.

I don’t mind that the years may have wrinkled my skin. As long as I don’t let the years wrinkled my soul. I don’t mind that the same wrinkles won’t let me keep the beauty on my face anymore so I just moved it to my heart.

I don’t mind that the world seems to slow down as I grow older. I have seen too many dear friends leaving this world too fast before they enjoy the privilege that comes with ageing. I don’t mind that my heart have been broken so many times as I have lost so many loved ones along the way. Broken hearts are what give us strength, understanding and compassion. A heart never broken will never know the joy of imperfect.

I don’t mind that when I walked on the beach showing my weathered body despite pitying glances from young ones. I actually pitied them. They may not have a chance to grow old like me. I don’t mind that I may shuffle my cards a bit slower. Not many people still have a full deck of cards to shuffle.

I don’t mind that I will have more candles on my birthday cake. The more candles I have, the longer I live. As time moves on, I may even get a bit forgetful but I don’t mind that too. Some things in life may very well be forgotten.

I don’t mind knowing that I will finally die. I am glad that I have found what I am willing to die for. If you have not found what you are willing to die for then you are not worth living.

I’ll say this: “Age is mind over matter. If you don’t mind, it doesn’t matter”.

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