Motivational Monday

THE BEST WAY TO LOOK AT AGING

IS TO SEE IT AS AN OPPORTUNITY

TO LEAVE WHAT DIDN'T WORK BEHIND

AND STEP BOLDLY INTO A BRAND NEW FUTURE.

(Oprah Winfrey)

So much of what I hear about aging is related to loss. We lose the tautness of our skin, bone density, hearing, the color in our hair (hello, gray!) We lose mental acuity, memories, friends. We lose hopes. We lose dreams. 

And to some degree, that's true. That's aging. That's life. 

But.  

Read the quote again. Really read it. Think about it. 

Now, what are you going to "lose" this time around? Sure, maybe some muscle tone but what else? What are you going to choose to lose? Those "thin clothes" from when you were 22 that you will never, ever fit into again? The compulsion to say "yes" when you mean "no"?  The tendency to agree, to go along because it's easier? Will you finally let go of those dreams and those goals you've outgrown the way you have those "thin clothes"? 

The more we let go of the past, of what didn't work, the more space, the more strength we have to welcome the new, the bold, the sometimes scary, the challenging, the breathless hopes, the exciting dreams. We become reborn. We become renewed.

Let's keep this in mind not only this week, but also as birthdays roll around and as each year slowly draws to a close. 

*****

I'm taking a blogging break this week to put the finishing touches on my ebook and to prep for NaNo. I might even - gasp! - relax and do something fun. But I'll drop in here and probably pop around the blogosphere now and then. Have a good week!