I love this picture! It shows the aspects of aging many of us dread and work so hard to avoid or delay. The wrinkles, loose skin, age spots, grey and thinning hair, and receding gum lines are all telltale signs of our unavoidable frailty to age. What I love about this picture is threefold; the subject is softened being in black and white or greyscale, her smile along with the fact that the smile reaches the eyes delightfully contrasts with the signs of aging we see. I am always pondering life – no surprises there; after all, I am a Life Strategist and someone who advocates for living it to the fullest.
Life is absolutely wondrous in all its glorious and challenging states! One aspect of having lived a full life is longevity. This article explores that aspect of life and in looking deeper to what degree can the length be considered as having been full. Someone whose life was short-lived could just as easily have lived a full life. Examples that immediately come to mind are Terry Fox and Steve Jobs. Who could argue those two lived the life they had to the fullest, and in doing so, left lasting impressions?
The life we have led, eventually reveals itself in our aged bodies. It is not always apparent to onlookers; but it is there. Injuries suffered when young come back to haunt us in the form of aches and pains. Self-abuse of our bodies with such habits as excessive or continual smoking and drinking shows in the parlor and texture of our skins. When we are young and doing these things, we do not stop to consider the impacts on our aged bodies. We are just living, and so we should. Yet, everything we do has consequences. The same can be said for self-love. It will show. In September, my grandmother turned 100 years old and I got to celebrate with her and our collective (blood and extended) family on this momentous occasion. A first for all of us!
What could it mean to live 10 decades? This is a question we should all ask ourselves. Especially so as human lifespans continue to extend beyond 80-years old. This longevity of life is considered a full one. Beyond 90 are big numbers for human life, but living long should not be readily equated to living fully. From whose lens do we evaluate having lived a full life? I find that the younger the person, the more they hold longevity as akin to living a full life. An older person tends to look more deeply at the quality and fulsomeness of the journey. An older person starts to consider legacy and what impactful contributions and loving sentiments (what I always refer to as breadcrumbs) will be left behind. That shift in viewpoints was interesting to see and consider in my reflections of aging.
The remarkable thing was in celebrating two centennial birthdays. Yes, I said two. In the same nursing home, two women celebrated turning 100. What is the likelihood of that occurring? Well, according to the staff at the nursing home, extremely unlikely. These two women brought the nursing home’s centennial celebrations to a total of three (3) since its existence; and the home has been around for well over a decade. So, on their birthday, families and residents came together to sing, read acknowledgments, eat ice cream, and become grateful for the blessings of long life. It was amazing to watch these mature seniors taking part in clapping and singing the birthday song; and it was noteworthy to see such a high level of astuteness, energy, and alertness to the proceedings occurring around them
This picture is of my grandmother showing the same telltale signs of aging. She has lived, she has suffered, she has endured and she has schooled at least 5 generations. By today’s standards, she is uneducated. Yet, she taught us to save something from every dollar we earned. Beyond immigration, she has not traveled. Instead, she read and books of every genre were her constant companion. She has never driven. When she couldn’t get a bus, she walked. She has outlived all her siblings, and her friends. Yet, she has a constant parade of visitors ensuring her continued care and well-being. Can this be considered a full life? Looking on and taking in the festivities, I wondered how many around us would get the same privileges of seeing life for 10 decades.
Every life is a case-by-case study. Not everyone can be a Terry Fox or Steve Jobs, but everyone can have an impact in their lives. One way to do that is by having a positive impact on the lives of others that endures beyond their physical presence. In celebrating my grandmother’s centennial birthday, I got to reflect on life from the perspective of age, and the aging process. I got to see the outcomes of decisions and choices – some within one’s control and some outside of that control. I got to see how these things can play out, and it was apparent that all of it has a purpose.
We are the conductor of our life. How we wield our baton to live out our life is completely up to us. We are living to build a life that reflects all of who we are. Our goal should be to have our journey reflect fulsomeness. Longevity without that is falling short and longevity with it is having lived. Are you living is the question for those reading this article. Did you live a full life? That question should be asked of our spirit as we pass on. Many people in our lives will have opinions on how we lived. Since you are central to the question, yours is the only response that matters, and the aspect from which you answer that question is yours to decide, but do aim for honesty in your response.
Jenn Drakes is all about living life to the fullest, which includes your personal and professional well-being. She is one of THE ACCELERATORS, a team of business-savvy coaches who work with SMBs to propel them forward. In addition to reading this article, take in one of the Employ to Innovate shows for insights on a number of relevant topics or schedule a call to discuss your growth needs.
