Behold The Sunrise – And Another Day…

Many of us over the age of 60 lament the onset of old age. We complain about health issues and everyday aches and pains that come with the turf. We joke about old age, yet under the surface, we are afraid of the inevitable – the end of life.

However, consider this – you are still here to witness the sunrise.

I am reminded every day of my blessings. Yet – decidedly bummed over dreams lost. I suspect a lot of us feel this way. We have our regrets and lost dreams. This doesn’t mean we haven’t lived. Our everyday experiences – the pleasures and the pain – mean we have lived and very much alive to feel. It doesn’t mean you’ve gotten what you’ve wanted. It means you’ve been here to experience.

The late John Lennon once sang the words, “Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans…” made famous in 1981 with “Beautiful Boy” (Darling Boy) in 1981. He spoke the truth. Day-to-day life gets in the way.

I’ve always viewed life as a series of chapters – phases. Each phase has been a story. Some good. Some not so good. When we were young, life stretched out ahead of us, with old age way off in the future. Had I known what was ahead of me, it would have scared the hell out of me. Life had a lot more in store. It would prove a toughening-up process. I would be unemployed, divorced, and an overnight father – wondering how to feed my children. However, I was handed a blessing – fatherhood.

Tough times made me stronger. I became a more responsible person.

I’ve lived through and survived frightening stages in life where the pain was so bad, and I didn’t have a friend in the world. Betrayed. Beaten. Scared. Alone. There was a time when I didn’t think I would survive – and didn’t care if I did. I was lying on a bathroom floor in the dark, searching for a way out. I heard my infant son cry in the next room and understood with great certainty that my destiny was to care for my son – no matter what. There was no other option but to care for my family.

That was 37 years ago.

Here’s what I learned from living through the lowest point in memory. You’re stronger than you think. You will survive if you are determined to survive, and especially if you have others who depend on you.

Survival is best taken in baby steps. It has been said you cannot eat an entire elephant in one sitting. It is best taken in manageable bites. When you’re at rock bottom and overwhelmed, you don’t even know how you will find your way back.

Are you listening?

Plan your work – and work your plan. Be prepared for missteps and poor judgment. You’re going to make mistakes and will probably have to work the plan all over again. Fake it until you make it – and then you will get it.

It is okay to flounder – but don’t make a habit of it. This is Earth School, not a dress rehearsal. We were born into this world to experience, learn, feel, and gain valuable knowledge for a higher purpose. We are not expected to understand that purpose.

The late great satirist, George Carlin, said we are part of a greater wisdom than we will ever understand. He couldn’t have been more correct. The man went through many ups and downs in his life. He was funny and entertaining. He stood back and took a broad brush look at humanity. However, Carlin was a humble man who took life seriously. He struggled with depression. He spoke of his wayward father with tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat.

The man who made us laugh understood pain.

If you are loved by someone – anyone – count your blessings. It means someone cares enough about you to feel love for you. You don’t need a huge circle of people – just one. Someone’s heart.

We do a lot of soul searching at this age. Is there still time to achieve our dreams and find happiness? When you are 60+, you begin thinking about your own mortality. Friends become ill and pass. Others die suddenly. These thoughts are nothing new. Mankind has been pondering its existence for thousands of years.

The joy of our advanced age is the wisdom and the good memories we have. We get together with friends and family in our age group and reflect on another day and time. We had our hopes and dreams – much as we still do today.