Age
Getting old is a privilege. Many don’t make it. We have all said goodbye to someone we love. Age is inevitable. That’s what happens here. We grow old. It’s like fighting the weather. Being mad at the sun. Planting an orange and hoping for an apple to grow. That’s what not being happy about age is. Silly.
But I have my health. Easier to be old, but my time is coming. Why am I healthy. Genetics first. Second is, I woke up soon enough to stop destroying my body with alcohol, drugs, smoking, abuse, pushing myself beyond reason (ok, I still do that sometimes) and a shitty attitude to being alive. This is a big one — defined as a mind set. I started to enjoy being alive. It came to me that I was dead for 13.8 billion years, then alive for the briefest of moments, then will be dead again forever. You may disagree, but you can’t prove it, so fuck off.
Now in old age, I take myself lightly, and life seriously. Me, will fade into total obscurity. In 100 years nobody will know I was here. I leave no genetic trace, and nothing of note. Not that that makes any difference, cause in the span of all time, all accomplishments are equal to zero. Really, in a billion years will anybody talk about the orange guy? Not only that, but I take my health seriously. Age is much easier if you are healthy and now the only path forward is to earn it. Health in later years is earned. There’s work to do on diet still. But I work out. Have plans. Keep active and social. Meditate, think, read books, love art, music, and have SO many interests that I’ll die without getting most of them even looked at. I love it when I run into something that I’ve never head of before — like a technology that’s way over my head. Here is my current list of topics on YouTube:
NHL Music, Podcasts, Gaming, Science Fiction, Seasons, Spacecraft, Universe, Geology, Fossils, Middle Ages, Evolution, Mixes, Classic Rock, Inventions, Oceans. Ok, there’s a few themes….
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So, there I am alive, in a world of people. And as baffled as one can be. There are obvious paths to take to grow old well. I ain’t perfect, far from it. But I understand some things. Life is meant to be lived. Fully. With gusto. No matter what. I also realize my privilege. To live in a country with a pension, healthcare, laws, and stability — makes it easier to be magnanimous about life. Ya, I very well remember being out of sorts not that long ago and in some trouble — and my mind set was not so great — I’ll only state this — I tired really hard then to see and seek this truth….but it was hard.
So, part of this age thing is not just age, but being human in a flawed world. Where suffering is real, and defines our lives. So the Buddhist principles of Dukkha — there is a path to end suffering and it lies in mind. Train the mind, understand the nature of attachment and the emptiness of self. And let go. Man, this is the big one. Needs a LOT of work.
But here’s where it gets interesting. If anybody asks me what I’m doing, I’ll answer — getting ready to die. This is the great lesson. The truth. To let go until one lets go of letting go. Till NOTHING disturbs the mental continuum. Nothing happy, nothing sad, good health, bad health, lots of money, no money no shoes….its all the same. This of course does not mean a life without passion or love — just not attached to the outcomes.
So I work out. Live fully. With passion and love. I try every day to let go. To dream, and let go. And when I wake up in the morning the very first thought is — a miracle, another day. I can continue this day to be better, and less, and more all at the same time.
Age is. Like heartburn. Or diarrhea. Or love. We are SO unimportant. And then again, we are the universe. And when you die, your universe and your unique view returns to the one. Maybe. Can hardly wait to find out — but in no rush, if ya know what I mean.
