Today is my birthday. As I write this my partner and I have got the day off and are cruising around exploring old England with all its history teaching impermanence at its best: each birthday is a lesson in that. I used to be scared of getting older and it took a long time to figure out why. The reason was entrenched in being scared of not living, which at that time meant many things because perhaps I did not feel like I really was. And that is the strange thing about our human life. We can live, yet not really live in the deepest sense of the experience or in whatever way we perceive it.
It’s a funny thing, getting older. I am now 32 yet still feel like a kid exploring this thing called adulthood. I used to think people in their 30′s were old and now it seems as I get older my definition of old drastically changes. How strange?! What do you think are the benefits of getting older? At this moment I think the benefits are the living in between the getting older, the birthdays. As you accumulate birthdays you accumulate life experiences. I’m not sure if Buddhism has had this effect, but I am awfully aware of the preciousness of time now and making the most of this life. Not in a careless or carefree way, but in a “I’m not going to waste my time being unhappy” sort of way. Seeking joy, purposely living it, and cultivating it is perhaps one of our greatest gifts, if we chose to accept the present.
Bravo to living!
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Happy birthday Amy. Congratulations of being in your thirties properly. In our twenties we are obsessed with getting to “30″. It’s the definition of old until you get there. Then you get to 30 and live for a year or two in a haze of “I thought I’d have achieved x,y,z by 30″. Then later, at 32 say, you realise that actually life is pretty good! My experience is that life generally gets better and better – sometimes rapidly, sometimes on a gentle slope. That will be bad times and mistakes, but the general trend is improvement and an increasing awareness of watch attachment looks like and how to manage that. I’m 45 now and feel physically much better than I did when I was 30! I have some older friends who suggest that like gets better successively in 30s, 40s, 50s and 60s. Only in the 70s does the physical aspect really start to go negative and in the 80s it’s much more difficult overall. So plenty to look forward to!
I felt that I only truly became conscious in my 30s. Mark
Mark, I think my 87 year young father rather would have a different perspective to your concept that the 80s is much more difficult physically. My Dad is fit as a fiddle and more agile than an olympic gymnast (well almost). Although I do agree with you life does get better. And my Dad’s secret – physical activity including tasks that involves dexterity (he makes wooden xylophones), mental activity (he knows more about computers than me), a strong faith in his God, a purpose to his life, love and a wife who runs round after him ! ! !
Happy birthday!!! Wonderful post! Wishing you many many many of these-birthdays and posts!
Alex
Ciao Amy,
Buon Compleano. I hope you have a great birthday. Make sure you stop somewhere to have a VERY GOOD espresso and maybe a piece of cake. I am 48 and don’t necessarily feel old. Physically I feel fine, but I do recognize that time is passing by.
Have a great day. Today is my sobriety birthday. I am 15 today about half your age. So, I too will have a VERY GOOD espresso to celebrate.
Ciao,
Seamus
Thanks for your comments! I’ve heard that a lot from my friends Mark. And one thing I really liked was that many have said they have lost a lot of self consciousness (yet become conscious at the same time, as you said). That, I will drink an espresso to! A good thing to let go of to help cultivate positive emotions and actions.
Seamus – happy 15th! That is a wonderful birthday indeed. And yes, plenty of espresso’s were to be had in a variety of cafes mooching around greater Manchester
Happy Birthday ….. Enjoy the 30s in the knowledge that the 40s will be even better (I speaketh from personal experience).
Nicki, your Dad is an inspiration! Keep learning, keep living, keep moving, keep living?