"Aging Gracefully" ?? Not sure I have perfected that yet...

 There is a quote from Hunter S. Thompson (the ultimate  cool "Hippie", I think ) that proclaims: 

“Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming "Wow! What a Ride!” 

 I have always loved that quote and perhaps I don't ascribe to it quite literally, but it does paint a pretty good picture of a life philosophy that I can get behind.  I really abhor the concept of "slowing down" as we age unless it means literally walking a little slower....I can see that. Yet, if it means doing less and not exploring new things in life, well THAT I don't agree with. Things get "tweaked" along the way, but to me it is such a good feeling to remind myself that just because I am "older" doesn't mean I have to rein in my actions and "act my age". Rather, I have learned from past mistakes and the wisdom that comes from living. For example, the best cure to prevent a hangover is to drink lots of water and aspirin before you hit the hay. Good luck to you if you are too drunk to remember this one, you probably deserve a little pain the next day. Yet, of course age and experience tells us that moderation is the key for maximum enjoyment. That holds true for many things in life other than just alcohol consumption.

It has been said that "Youth is wasted on the Young" There is something to be said for that, because there are things that I was able to do easily as a younger person, that I wish I could do now. That brings me to the "re-inventing" idea. Yes, there are things that we can't do that we did when we were younger, but many doors open up to as life circumstances change. 

Betty Friedan, one of my favorite feminist writers, said it well when she reminded us: "Aging is not lost youth, but a new stage of Opportunity and Strength"   She had a wonderful way of opening our eyes and bringing clarity to things right before us. That statement on aging brings to me a sense of joy and also a sense of resolve. As life circumstances change, so do new opportunities. A perfect example of that from my life is the start of my writing career. When my husband retired from the corporate working world, I "retired" too and started to embark on my passion of writing. I was too young to retire, but nevertheless was delighted that I could delve into my passions: writing and photography. And I'm not dead yet....but what What A Ride it has been so far!

Sometimes we have to re-invent ourselves through the years with both careers and on a personal level.  Change is seldom easy, often quite hard. Yet one's attitude towards change can soften the blow if you view it as an opportunity for growth.  Ever been fired from a job that you thought was just perfect for you? I have, and in hindsight it was NOT perfect and getting fired forced me to move on to bigger and yes better things. This is another example of how wisdom that comes with age, and experience, really does make you grow as a person.

Yes, this is a pretty philosophical post, perhaps even a note of encouragement. But young or old at this point we could all use a little encouragement and it might be good advice to Enjoy the Ride!  CHEERS!          Julie E. Smith

What's My Line??

All my life I have had vivid dreams and I almost always remember them. Sometimes they make sense, but sometimes they are apparently just my brain taking a little "siesta" from the day to day struggles and triumphs. Last night I had a dream that I believe was helping me deal with some of the anxieties of recent events in Washington. Everyone's anxiety at this time is compounded by the situation of dealing with the corona virus, racial tensions and everything else that put 2020 on the history books.

My dream, on the surface, doesn't seem to have anything to do with the storming of our US Capitol and what will become of Donald Trump....but if you dig a little deeper I think it was more profound then meets the eye. It certainly helped ease my anxiety....a bit. So in the dream I was an actress in a Shakespearean play and I was suffering from the worst stage fright: I kept forgetting my lines and when I was supposed to say them.  In between acts, the man who was playing the "King" (not sure what play it was...just felt like Shakespeare) pulled me aside and said "Look, don't worry so much...I am really drunk and forgetting my lines too! Smell my breath...You and I both know the story and we know how it ends. We can just Wing It. Just say what you feel like saying and the story will get told."

Interesting premise, but in the dream it gave me a surprising sense of calm. It felt good knowing that by "winging it" we could get the job done in the best manner we could and the play would still be completed. And also completed with alot less anxiety. Yet, in real life we don't know how the story will end. Many people have forgotten their "lines" or they are saying what is perceived as the wrong ones. As a nation, we just hope that the correct decisions will be made to move forward.  Many current events will have a profound effect (for the better we hope) on how our government operates.

 Yes, the times are troubling and we have to work together to make things better. However,  I strongly believe that individuals need to take care of themselves...and their mental health...FIRST, if they are to be successful, fully functioning members of society. I am not advocating apathy, but I do believe sometimes we need to take a step back and let the dust settle before we get too emotionally involved.  I think that was what my dream was trying to help me with: coping mechanisms.  It has been said before: 10 years from now....what will really stand out as important?

I'm not a therapist, but I do know a thing or two about dealing with anxiety.  Listen to your dreams, they may be trying to tell you something.               Julie E. Smith