There are endless articles, websites, and podcasts addressing the issues of ageing. Most are focused on health, both physical and mental. These are undoubtedly vital issues.
Very few of them look at the other, interior, space we elders occupy…the space of meaning, the space of our essence, the space of our consequence. Older people are rarely encouraged to examine this area of being. Conscious ageing, on the other hand, asks us to delve deeply into our sense of meaningful living as we grow older.
How then can we contemplate this intangible, almost inexpressible part of our selves? There are a few prompts that might guide us in this exploration. The first one, “Why are you here?” opens our minds and hearts to a basic, existential enquiry. There are no right or wrong answers to this intimate question. Each of us, with our decades of life experience, will answer differently, and differently each time we ask. A written or spoken journal might help us organise our thoughts and feelings as we dive deeply, and gently, into our very essence.
The second question we might ask is, “What matters?” Again, what is important is personal to each of us. It could be a social or political issue. It might be people, or volunteering, or meditating. It might be a creative project or walking each day.
Identifying what truly matters in our lives allows us to focus our energy and attention. It is easy to become distracted by the daily dose of negativity in the news, or concerns about our dear ones, or our own changes as we age. Attending to what matters most, what is most important, gives us energy and enlivens us to carry on contributing in whatever way we choose.
The third guiding enquiry to consider is, “What crossroads are you facing right now, in this moment?” We are continually presented with choice — engage with this or with that? Being fully aware of each crossroads gives us breathing room to think and feel into the choices, and then act. Some crossroads are momentous, others of less consequence, though each asks us to pay attention.
Should I rest now or after I’ve completed this task? Is that treatment better than the one I use now? Shall I spend money on this project/idea/gadget or save it for the proverbial rainy day? Cremation or burial?
We have faced numerous crossing points in our long experience. We know how to sift through options. Our elderhood gives us a gift we didn’t have when we were younger —discernment. We can make each choice with the wisdom of our years.
Exploring these three questions offers us the incentive to live into our elderhood with awareness of our value, awareness of our capabilities, and awareness of our rich inner lives and the actions that manifest from that wealth.