Growing Older; Glowing Wiser.
Folks now stand to give me their seats on buses,
And the middle-aged rise, so that I can sit on trains.
Talk about Father Time! What a merciless rogue!
He seems to creep up on me these days!
One split second and it’s a birthday,
Then another season and it’s time for one more dance.
Yesterday I stood in front of the mirror at home
And it was callous, ruthless, unforgiving; almost brutal!
Lard ah mercy! Me soon come, Heaven …me soon come!
Getting serious, old age is a new page!
Sure I’m moving on, and for the emphasis of drama,
I thought that I’ll embellish this prose a little,
And after all, it’s true, isn’t it? Or is it?
I look forward not to the flight of years, but to the dawn of wisdom.
I look forward to the beginning of a glorious experience.
Life simply is, and it is so beautiful to be in this moment!
No heavy elephants of the past on my shoulders; no future burdens,
But a sweet deliberate flow, in the Here and Now.
Like the butterfly, life continues to renew itself;
Springs forth from another cocoon and dazzles,
Ever more beautiful, as it should.
Some remain active at ninety, as they were at forty,
And their minds are as sharp as their Hearts young.
They have understood the value of making age an asset,
And not a liability to their needs.
Sweet mama did plenty, me tell you;
Still churning the ice-cream can way into her seventies,
Until hours before her lights went out.
We grow young … when we know how to let go of the fears
Of past and future, to see life as an asset and not a liability,
To accept in order to transform; to mould the sticky clay,
Until it becomes a beautiful vase.
We may not have the vigour of youth, but we can diversify;
Seek new horizons to augment our talent
For the discovery of new dawns.
Old age has emerged from the hard grind of labour.
Now a forward step on the ladder of life;
It sets new horizons; new goals,
Hungering and burning for a greater harvest,
While keeping the mind alert,
And the Soul young.
One needs to be a Bird of the Heart,
And not a prisoner of the mind;
To be fresh like dew, and ready to sing, like music,
Leading Lights
We grow old when we cease to dream!
God is life, and life is self-renewing,
Like the gleam of daybreak,
Promising new aspirations and vibrancy,
To all who embrace this struggle.
So as we gaze into the infinite,
Let us look ahead at all times,
Being busy doing the things of substance,
With the fullness of joy in our hearts.
We are the children of a birthless and deathless Light,
Ceaselessly streaming its beckoning lustre
Into the core and spirit of man.
And so I give thanks to an unknown Entity
That brought me into this world;
A Queen of a mom who kept me in her womb for nine months,
Singing lullabies that echoed in my Spirit…
Last night, for my Birthday, good friends did things for me
That made my heart melt and my Spirit joyful.
They sang cute songs and lit candles,
And I felt the golden moments of a prayer emerging in my Soul,
Singing, ‘Give God the glory. Alleluia! Praise be!”
Manatita, The Flame-Weaver. Copyrighted, 10th February, 2016.
~Awakening The Inner Light ~
Quotes on Ageing
Growing Older
Does this worry You?
See results without voting© 2016 manatita44
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25 comments
The one thing none of us can avoid manatita is aging. Some seem to age faster than others but we can always stay youthful in our minds. I still have the same feelings as I did 20 years ago and am still young at heart. Our bodies may be showing signs of life's experiences but age is really just a number as far as the mind is concerned. As long as we have our health age does not have to hinder us. Thank you for this hub.
This was especially timely for me. I will have another birthday in six days and I'm getting there. I feel like I did when I was twenty ( In my mind ) I have a quote from my sister Mary who is ninety one and still going strong. " You have two choices, either you live to be old or you die. " I think the key to growing old gracefully is doing what you love to do, mine is writing. I might mention that my sis. Mary never drank alcohol, never smoked, never weighed more than 115 lbs. There is something she did do to excess, coffee. Anytime you enter her house, the coffee aroma meets you, so it must be good for you? Belated birthday wishes to you my poet friend....Thank you
Nice one, Bro.
I wanted to coin a poem from the wonderful Hub (prose) I wrote here on Ageing, so I could do it at Poetry Cafe. I did once, and it was very well received.
Hi Ruby, I like your sisters attitude, and by the way, the experts are now saying that coffee is good for you too. I believe it helps the liver, and it most certainly helped me years ago, on my long driving trips on the German Autobahn.
Thanks Ruby, I believe you thanked me before, but great, I'm ever young. Here's a poem for you:
" I am a seven-year-old girl.
My Master’s light all-where I hurl.- Sri Chinmoy.
It is a song and the girls sing it on their birthday's at my Centre. My Gratitude to you, as always, stay young. Much Love.
It bothers me at times to think of how age is coming fast. It is true that I feel like the same person in a lot of ways as I did in youthful days. However, I do see the changes now too; some good, some bad.
I see a lot of wisdom and knowledge, but I see wrinkles and health issues that come with age sometimes. I remember I could stay up longer and my excitement for venturing out has changed into wanting to put on Pjs and relax at home more. lol.
I do try and view the process as graceful as I can though. It's why I write poetry, so I can move through the used to be's into the new me. :) Great Hub!
manatita.....An absolutely beautiful, gently presented poetic description of aging. Yes, some years ago I surrendered gracefully when I realized the gifts of gratitude & wisdom given to us through the years. I would not trade these for mere youth.
My Spirit & zest for life are just as authentic & vibrant as when in my 20's & 30's~~& the calendar tells me soon I will be 68.
Let me share a TRUE secret...."The Young at Heart" never grow old.
Peace & Love, Paula
Missy,
You seem to be doing well, have no fear. I like the pj's idea. Thank you so much for your wonderful contribution.
Paula,
I like your secret ...I mean, I'm working on it too. So happy to hear that you feel so vibrant. Excellent! Thank you for your wonderful contribution. Much Love.
My goodness! You've shown me among some VERY major company - Nelson Mandela and Harrison Ford! I'm humbled! I admire them both.
My George was 10 years my senior. He'd be 94 if he were still living and I've no doubt, he'd still be young at heart and full of his special glow, kinds of energy and interests. He was 86 when he left earth.
I voted "gracefully surrendered", though I'm not sure what is being surrendered? The confusions of youth? haha. It's more like each year/age is gracefully welcomed. I have loved most ages I've been, except perhaps my 30s; - not because of external issues but I just felt sort of dumpy.
Manatita, I love what you've said and how you've presented the privilege of aging, . . . . and it IS a privilege. What a marvelous hub! ! I'm going to recommend it to several special people!
By the way - I love the subtle 'Glowing Wiser' wording in the title!
Ha ha, Nellieanna,
I was thinking of you. I put you there because of your Spirit, Dear, so don't belittle yourself. You see, you even intuitively chose the one I like: "Gracefully surrendered." This word 'surrender' is unparalleled in Spirituality.
"Oh God, I do not know what is good for me. Whether it is youth or age is Your concern. All I know, is that I wish to do Your Will ... to be an unconditionally Surrendered instrument of Yours."- Manatita
Ha ha again. Only you would notice. I like that. Glowing wiser indeed! Special Love to George in Heaven. In Love and Light, my Dear Friend.
Manatita, your hub on ‘Age’ was fantastic and now this poem adds some extra sugar in my coffee – full of wisdom and clarity. Amazing! Yeah, one should gracefully surrender. When our eyes don’t see, the Heart doesn’t say. It’s better to feed the child inside with laughs and giggles. That’s the essence of life. One should live in the moment. Loved the quotes. Om Shanti.
You're in my Heart, my Sweet. What can I say? A very loving comment and one filled with wisdom. Joy and Peace.
"We grow old when we cease to dream!" I love this thought. I think it's so true. I enjoyed reading your poem and the quotations very much, Manatita.
Oh, yes. Surrendering in many ways is the essence of spirituality, and also, it can be appreciated, many times in many ways, a practical response to the nitty-gritty of living. One need not buck and fight every challenge, unless it's a worthy one for a worthy cause. Many people feel personally challenged by trivial things, or by things profound beyond their own ability to change or have effect, when real issues they can and need to address go wanting. So, yes, surrender is a lovely word and an even lovelier talent to have among one's life-assets. Smile!
You really know how to express yourself Manatita.. love the lines: Like the butterfly, life continues to renew itself;
Springs forth from another cocoon and dazzles,
Hi AliciaC, my Friend. Good to see you always. Yes, a great quote, isn't it?God bless your loving Heart.
Nellieanna,
How I loved those lines! So much wisdom in them. Yet I see instances of them every day:
"Many people feel personally challenged by trivial things, or by things profound beyond their own ability to change ..."- Nellieanna.
This one is from my Guruji:
"Never worry about things you cannot change."- Sri Chinmoy.
Thank you for returning. There is so much in our nature that is similar. If I have any advantage, if, it is only because I sat at tha feet of one of the most remarkable luminary of the 20th and 21st Century. Much Love.
Yes Brother Frank. How I love creating! This breathes new life into me. Thank you so much!
Great sentiments.Does wisdom come with age /
If it's a question, then it's a very good question. Does wisdom come to the critical patient lying on the hospital bed? Yes and no. Inner progress relies on so may forces coming together! And no, wisdom does not necessarily come with age.
Are the dead also alive? Yes! Do the blind also see? Yes! Still, this article is really for the purpose of inspiration, and some will derive benefit. The servant simply puts out the seeds. It grows on some soil, on others it doesn't. All good, really; all part and parcel of the game.
Thank you so much, my brother. You inspired my response. Om Shanti!
Very positive thoughts. No one has and can escape aging. I always feel age is just a number and if we can control mental aging with positive thoughts the physical self will just follow one's wishes.
Very wise, Rajan. very wise thoughts. Much Gratitude.
I know the mirror scared you when you reverted to the language: "Lard ah mercy!" Seriously though, there is so much in this poem for reflection and inspiration too-"not to the flight of years, but to the dawn of wisdom." I really like it.
Yes Dee. Ever the poet, I embellish at times, but interestingly enough, this is a loving and motivational poem/hub. It is very well received.
At a public recital, even the young loved it. Thank you so much.
I believe and have believed for quite some time that curiosity and enthusiastic ways was part of the secret for the fountain of youth. I still have yet to find the rest, for there is more. In the meantime, I will keep searching and I will grow forever younger with time.
Interesting Deb. Curiosity? You want to find out what being 90 is? Great! Ha ha. Thank you so much!
I thought I'd already commented on this beautiful display of wisdom. I know I've read it before now. Anyway, I just love this, Manatita. Life presents so many possibilities as we age. I think my favorite thing about getting older is the freedom that comes with it. Making it through the child-rearing years with youth and vigor patiently waiting on the other side of the hill is amazing.
Perhaps you have, my Sweet. I think that I have both a prose and poetic version here. How I wish I was retired! Then I could focus on writing my books and poetry. I'll return to poetry here soon. Much Love.
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