Muse Upon This:
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
~ George Eliot
I am deeply inspired by vibrant, older adults; people who continue living, learning, and experiencing life long past when others have stopped “trying”. My parents are two of those people. On the eve of their seventieth birthdays, they are currently skiing down a mountain in Colorado. Or, at least, they were until my mom fell and broke her ankle. I told her I was so impressed she skied hard enough to break an ankle!
Then there are the Delaney sisters. (Forgive me if I get this story wrong. It has been awhile since I heard it and I might not have it exactly right. The gist is right on, though, and that is the point.) They lived to be 104 and 107. One was the first Black American woman allowed to teach domestic science in NY and the other was the second Black American woman to get her dentistry license. They lived boldly in their younger years so it is no surprise to hear they went boldly into their later years. They took up yoga (now you see why I told this story!) in their 80s and were still doing it into their 100s, visiting each other’s homes to practice together. (Yes, they still lived independently.) Oh, and did I mention? They are both in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the oldest authors. (Sadie wrote her last book at age 107!!)
How about a student I had who still inspires me. At age 72 she was considering doing my yoga teacher training because she had always wanted to be a yoga teacher. She is incredibly alive and vibrant. (She also said that one thing she did have to give up was roller blading. Not because of her age, mind you, but because her 82 year old boyfriend would want to do it with her. She then added, “I just don’t think he should be roller blading at his age!”)
Okay, so now let them inspire YOU! What have you put off? What do you feel it is “too late” to do? School? Run a marathon? Learn to cook? Travel? New career? To live more from love? Are you inspired yet?
While I think the yoga crowd might enjoy this the most, it is a smile for all! Enjoy!
Then there are the Delaney sisters. (Forgive me if I get this story wrong. It has been awhile since I heard it and I might not have it exactly right. The gist is right on, though, and that is the point.) They lived to be 104 and 107. One was the first Black American woman allowed to teach domestic science in NY and the other was the second Black American woman to get her dentistry license. They lived boldly in their younger years so it is no surprise to hear they went boldly into their later years. They took up yoga (now you see why I told this story!) in their 80s and were still doing it into their 100s, visiting each other’s homes to practice together. (Yes, they still lived independently.) Oh, and did I mention? They are both in the Guinness Book of World Records for being the oldest authors. (Sadie wrote her last book at age 107!!)
How about a student I had who still inspires me. At age 72 she was considering doing my yoga teacher training because she had always wanted to be a yoga teacher. She is incredibly alive and vibrant. (She also said that one thing she did have to give up was roller blading. Not because of her age, mind you, but because her 82 year old boyfriend would want to do it with her. She then added, “I just don’t think he should be roller blading at his age!”)
Okay, so now let them inspire YOU! What have you put off? What do you feel it is “too late” to do? School? Run a marathon? Learn to cook? Travel? New career? To live more from love? Are you inspired yet?
While I think the yoga crowd might enjoy this the most, it is a smile for all! Enjoy!
4 comments:
This quote first inspired me a few years ago. A coaching client sent it to me in a card at just the right time. I am right now learning to feel even more present and peaceful in the moment. I am learning to live more from love.
Wow!
Where do I start!
I am always SO moved by the matriarchs in our society. I too am impressed by your mother. Life is only to be lived in the moment, whatever age we are.
At the brink of turning 49 in a couple of weeks, I am changing my life once again. And yet it is not actually a changing, but a finally doing what I was always meant to do...
Living on property where people come to heal. I have always known that part. Or for many years anyways. But more to the point, fostering teens & mentoring teens. This is what every single thing, every single heartache has prepared me to do. People recoil in horror that I would want or even consider working w/ teens. Little do they know that I MUST.
I have ALWAYS said...I look forward to turning 40(of which I past a long time ago), I look forward to turning 50 & I even look forward to being an eccentric 80 year old w/ her gardens & her kids & her animals...everything that I want to draw close!
Thank you for this post & for who you are....
I think life just keeps getting better. I get wiser, I know more, I experience more. Certain things matter less and you do hone in on what you want and what you are meant to do - a refinement. I should like to think that I will be a wise, peaceful, refined old lady. As I've told my children, I fully plan to live until I'm 100.
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