Oct 15, 2012

47 AGING WITH GRACE–A TRIP DOWN MEMORY LANE

October 20, 2005, A day to remember; I found beauty in age and remembrance of lessons forgotten as I met elegance, refinement and loveliness, in other words Grace in an old lady.
 
AGING WITH GRACE
At 91, her carriage is erect, her steps proud, eyes sparkle,
Speaking wonderfully of the life that runs through her, in her, surrounding her,
She lives.
Having long moved pass surviving
She lives,
Traveling the world with a ferocious appetite & courage,
She lives.
Her smile touches the eyes and catapult inside,
Hinting at the girl she once were
A wealth of history,
A succulent life story,
Spoken with pride
Devoid of bitterness or regret
She carries with her... peace.
Her laughter, rich seemingly untouched by life’s contemptuousness
She relays a little of her story
Her ventures from South Africa to Europe to Canada
She lives with light, Hope, Laughter, Love, Courage, adventure
With an eye on the future joyously anticipating her next escapade
At 91, she is strong, vibrant as sweet as you please, fully geared with all her faculties
Not at all shy to speak her age, she takes it all in grace
At 91, she has not slowed her pace
She lives.


My bus arrived and I had to go. I left, but not before a warm embrace taking some of her grace with me. Hoping I live as she lives, in all our time of talk, I was so enraptured, I didn't catch her name but I definitely caught the lesson. Besides, I am sure by God's grace, I will see her again.

THE LESSON ?
It’s not about surviving, surviving is living in the past, it’s about living, being happy, not letting fear control you, dictate your thoughts, hinder your steps. It’s remembering that despite what life throws your way, you must continue to live.

Last Update:
I found out later through a very silly conversation with a young woman (I often see around my neighbourhood) that evovled into me relaying my story of my old lady friend only to find out it was her grandmother . Isn't that a some coincedence? I recently met the granddaughter and I found out her grandmother (my graceful swan) passed at 95. May the good Lord bless her soul.

47 comments:

  1. Hi
    I had to leave a comment on this one, it reminds me of my daughter always telling me I’m gracefully aging. It always makes me have a special feeling inside when she comments that. I have been told this often these past few years with several friends, great topic I enjoyed it!

    Your cyber friend, Flo

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    1. Thank you, its great that you are aging gracefully, it means you have a handle on choosing your battles, you manage to smile each day no matter what, you enjoy life and people......

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  2. did the old lady {that so much exuberant "grace"} disclose her source of grace in order to motivate the younger generations to always live life at it’s fullest like she did.

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    1. If memory serves I believe she said that being honest with yourself, living life and taking advantage of opportunities, being greatful, taking care of yourself as you would for those you love and to find a blessing in every day.

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  3. I don't know her but I am proud of her accomplishments. I pray to age gracefully as she did and have the priviledge to touch someone's life such that the person would be gracious enough to pen such words about me.

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    1. You and me both, all the time during our conversation I keep thinking, 'Lord help me to be as thankful, poised and blessed as she should you see fit to keep me around that long.'

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  4. Bless her soul. While some age with bitterness and regret, she aged with honesty and peace. Bless her.

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    1. Oh I have known a few bitter seniors believe me, she was a breath of fresh air.

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  5. 91 and still erect?! Wow. I like to sit with older people. You learn so much from them. They smile as you talk about your issues and their eyes sparkle and lips smile, letting you know they've lived it too :)

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    1. Yes, and she look so good, if she did not tell me she was 91 I would never have known. That day she was going to her doctors appointment and then off to the community center where she socialize with other seniors. She was born in South Africa, what specific region I cannot remember.

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  6. Yes! Yes! Preach it. The lesson is powerful. It's difficult to stay happy when circumstances are not pleasant.

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    1. Ah there in lies the rub, its about one of the only thing we can really control in life - how we feel/allow things to impact us.

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  7. Aging gracefully, is what some don't do anymore, rather they fight it,until eventually losing the battle.
    It takes discipline of many years to walk erect even at 91!
    Her beautiful soul rest in peace. No, i don't think it was a coincidence to have met her granddaughter.

    Thank you for commenting in my blog.

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    Replies
    1. Unfortunately aging is viewed as a deficit, a plague to be avoided. It zeal to stay young has become pandemic to the degree that "we" are literally dying to be young.

      Hmmmm, it is said that there is no such thing as coincidence, perhaps she sent her to bid me adieu?

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  8. wow..........now that is truly living a great life. may she rest in peace

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  9. The BEautiful Beauty Of How Beauty Beautifully Fades.. :)

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  10. Hello,

    Amazing lady,very poised, graceful. To live up to 96 itself is a great achievement. You have portrayed her very elegantly in your excellent post. Lovely photo. I liked the ring in the ears.

    Have a nice day,
    Joseph

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    Replies
    1. Thank you Joseph, it is indeed an achievement and to have all her memories in tact.

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  11. To live gratefully and gracefully with dignity is a blessing not given to all.But that is no reason not to try.
    The post is an useful reminder to the octogenarians!!
    I salute your keen power of observartion and the willingness to share with your readers

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    Replies
    1. Octogenarians? ......I shall add it to my list...hehe.

      grateful and graceful, indeed it is something we all must cultivate.

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  12. Uma lição de vida para qualquer pessoa.Gostaria de te-la conhecido.Adorei teu post.Grande abraço. SU.

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  13. Lovely Post I have a dear friend who is just 90 years old . I am always interested in the life she unfolds and sometimes she makes me laugh so, with her wonderful stories.
    YES to stand up right at this age is a wonderful bonus.
    Best Wishes
    Sheila enjoy your week.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah you are lucky, much of my youth was spent with the older generation, they call me an old soul. Some can be a challenge and some can be a bucket of joy and wisdom. Cherish your friend.

      Same to you, have a blessed weekend.

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  14. Oh, I caught the lesson too. Its not about surviving but about living. I think we all fall into that trap of just surviving and not really enjoying all the blessings of life God's given to us. The bible says, "He daily loads us with benefits, even the God of our salvation". I think we may be doing ourselves a lot of injustice just surviving this world and not living it fully...

    Blessings Sis, Long time...

    - LDP

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    Replies
    1. Yes Samuel, you absolutely got it. Its a pleasure seeking you again via your comment, its indeed been a long time. I understand, you starting a new job, get use to the run of things, learning the ropes, takes a while to adjust. Thanks for coming, always a pleasure.

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  15. It’s remembering that despite what life throws your way, you must continue to live.


    Enjoyed, and always inspired by the wisdom offered via the elderly, the Old Earth, which is filled with tremendous wisdom.

    Thanks for sharing.

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  16. wow ma'a,!! your post took the words outta me...loool and so i feel what i will say wont be enough for this post
    one word, it was lovely
    and the old woman at 91,...that strong?! and beautiful...she must have treated her youthful years with respect and she was just reaping what she had sown in past years

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    1. hmmmmmm, perhaps, she said the secret is living everyday, enjoying life and what it has to offer and not becoming bitter.

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  17. What an inspiring lesson, thanks for sharing. And meeting the granddaughter is a lovely coincidence too. I hope to age with grace too, living is very important.

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    1. She was an impressive woman to meet. we should all learn to truly live life and not simply suffer through surviving.

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  18. Hey there, stopping in to wish you a good week and I hope everything is going okay. All is well here, nothing happening, just wanted to show my face.

    What an awesome post, lots of valuable insights and lessons. Very inspiring, I like it!

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    1. thank you, it always a pleasure to see you via your comments.

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  19. Great post, Rap. There's a lot of wisdom (and lessons) in this. 'Remembering that despite what life throws your way, you must continue to live'...is something I live by and am ever mindful of.

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    1. Yes indeed. I too am learning to adhere this credo.

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  20. She sounds like such a wonderful person. Thank you for sharing her with us. What a blessing that you got to meet her granddaughter and learned of her passing. I would so much like to be her.

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    1. She was indeed very dynamic. She just met me in a little passage of time, it was enough for me to appreciate the wisdom passed along.

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  21. Hey, just passing by to say hello. Enjoy the rest of your week *hugs*

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    1. Hugs received and appreciated. Thanks...same to you.

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  22. Beautifully, inspiring post. Many young people anticipate aging with a sense of dread; I think that the beauty of your latter end, has a great deal to do with the choices that you made in the beginning/your motivating principles for living. That wonderful old lady-God bless her soul, certainly made some right choices. My prayer is that I will age that gracefully, and at the twilight of my life, be a source of inspiration to the generations after me. Wow! Such grace.

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    1. hmmmmm....Amen I to wish to age gracefully if the Divine chooses to allow me into that passage of time. I hope to see each day with gratitude seeing my glass as half full instead of half-empty or missing. You are certainly correct in your assessment of the younger generation trepidation with aging especially with the lure of “infinite youthfulness” in the form of plastic surgeries, body part augmentations, tucks and lifts.

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  23. Thank you Rhapsody for your message... =) Always timely and appreciated.

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