The two sides of growing old

My wife always complains about the physical downsides of old age like wrinkles, waning beauty of our youth, stiff joints and gradual loss of perfect health. 

These of course are elements we can’t totally dismiss, that we cannot totally control, that are left to mother nature and yet that we must accept. Sure, we can work harder and more diligently at controlling that loss of personal assets by exercising more, eating healthy, sleeping well and remaining mentally active, but no matter what we do a certain amount of decline is unavoidable. 

Yet, I tend to believe that what we lose on that physical realm can be largely compensating by what we can install – gradually as well – inside our brains and minds. We can become better, much, much better people, if we pay attention to it, are convinced that it’s possible and apply ourselves to that task on a daily basis. 

The tools for doing it are obvious, simple and can be activated during everyone of our waking hours. We simply need to invest into them relentlessly. Simple things that training ourselves at controlling our emotions, at thinking positively, becoming more grateful, generous, humble, open-minded, loving, emphatic and compassionate are ours to adopt among many others. 

Likewise, we should kick out fear, jealousy, envy, greed, vanity and any other negative feelings. When you look at aging this way it’s not just a great deal, it got everything to become the best time and the culmination of our lives!