You are living your life every day and all of a sudden realize your birthday is fast approaching. At first I go into denial and think it is not for a while. Then as the day draws closer I become slightly depressed and very sensitive. Thoughts of loneliness and the fact I am getting older is plaguing my mind. My defense mechanism is to isolate for a while. This behavior is short lived as my birthday arrives.
My birthday arrived. I had a fun day, met a very good friend for breakfast (splurged on a muffin), sat on the couch reading a book and celebrated my birthday with friends. The next day I woke up feeling happy and positive. What a complex individual I am and knowing there are beautiful people in my life is very comforting.
We are all different individuals; share with us your behavior as the big day approaches and/or how you celebrate the big day. Some of my friends plan big celebrations, others buy themselves presents or like me deny the day. There is no right or wrong.
Please help build this community by sharing your experiences, asking questions and suggesting topics you would like to discuss. I am looking forward to hearing from you by leaving comments below or sending me an email at helen@helenburton.net.
Helen
how to age gracefully
Living in the Moment
I am looking out the window of my home in NJ and the butterflies are flying around the weeds and flowers. What a beautiful and peaceful picture.
It has taken me years to come to the point of just relaxing and enjoy what is happening in the moment. This was a hard transition for me to be able to take the time to enjoy what was happening right now and not focus on all the things I had to do. I’ve attended many workshops/lectures and have read different books in which the presenters and authors always focus on the benefits of being in the moment.
How do you accomplish this feat? Some of my methods for finding peace:
- Making myself a cup of tea, sitting in a comfortable chair and looking out the window. The first time I tried this, I sat for about 2 seconds. After trying this exercise for several weeks, I was able to sit longer. Don’t worry about your thoughts, keep telling yourself you are okay. It is amazing how relaxing and peaceful you will feel.
- Taking a short walk outside and enjoying the sights and sound around me. Some people listen to music as they are walking and others enjoy the quiet. Moving and being outside restores my energy and I feel ready to conquer the world.
- While spending time with friends, grandchildren and children, I take the time to think how lucky I am. On Monday evenings for the last 12 years my grandson and I have dinner together. We call this our bonding time and have built a great relationship.
Please share with us the tools you are using in order to enjoy the moment and the benefits you are receiving. Creating a list will help us find different ways of being in the moment.
Let’s continue to build our community in supporting each other with ideas, lessons learned and empowering thoughts. I am looking forward to hearing from you by leaving comments below or sending me an email at helen@helenburton.net.
Have a beautiful and peaceful day!
The Power of Being 70 