Aging Differently

Aging is a natural process but aging beautifully is not natural. It requires some efforts so that we don't get old; we grow old. The difference between human beings & people can be summed up in our description of aging. While things decay, human beings grow. Then, why is it so that people don't want to age? They want to enjoy their salad days up to the maximum. They don't want wrinkles on their faces, stumble in their walk & shake in their voice. The reason for it is that they connect aging only with physical symptoms. 

Describing aging in physical terms is like comparing human beings with things. Things may wear out or rust out but humans grow old & grow wise. If we look out for some of the positive manifestation of aging, we will welcome it with open arms. In the prime of his life, a man is a bundle of energy. He wants to achieve a lot & be the best in the field that he chooses. He has a carefree attitude & tries his hands at everything. He fails many times before he tastes success. He cheats many & is duped by a large number of people. He is aggressive, industrious & a go-getter. Most of these are the positive traits & suits the persona of a young man trying to do well in life. But the problem starts when he wants to be successful by any means. His ends justify his means & he justifies the ends that he wants to meet. He starts compromising with his character, family & self. He succeeds in life & pays a heavy price for this success, but he doesn't seem to mind until he sees some grey hair on his head or a wrinkle on his face. Suddenly, he realizes that he is getting old & starts his count down.

The day he realizes that his years are numbered now, his whole mental make-up transforms. He becomes mature, satiated & sympathetic towards others. He starts looking at others with a different mindset. He doesn't want to only achieve but wants to give as well. From material possessions, he moves to nature. Not only he wants to have things but also to enjoy them. He feels blessed in many ways. He becomes spiritual, forgiving & benevolent. He loves, lives & wants to leave a legacy. This is not to deny some physical manifestation of his aging like hair-fall, a weaker body & drop in energy level. But the fact remains that old age has more to do with mind than with body. If we accept it gracefully, we will see it more as a blessing than as a curse. We will see it as arriving at a more beautiful & satisfying place, rather than seeing it as a departure stage.

If only we could learn to live our life in reverse order- starting with the grace of old age, moving to our vibrant youth & becoming a child to go back to the infinite that we came from !