Getting Older: The Adventure

The dictionary defines adventure as "an unusual and exciting, typically hazardous, experience or activity."

Our adventure of growing older begins at the moment of conception. The miracle of conception and birth certainly fits the definition of an adventure. And it happens rapidly. To think of all that develops in the nine months before we exit the womb is just plain amazing. We start as a single cell and become a human being that can eventually climb mountains. How amazing is that?

And we grow older from the beginning, each moment of life giving us the opportunity to do more, to be more. As youngsters we often wish we were older than we are. We are in a hurry to grow up, whatever that means to us.

And for at least half of our life we are growing in the literal sense of the word. We grow physically, mentally, emotionally, financially, etc. For at least half of our life growing older means getting more of something - more strength, more freedom, more opportunity, more relationships, more money, even more things.

We think of growing as expansion. Our world stretches and our opportunities reach farther and farther. We see ourselves climbing higher and seeing more.

There are difficulties to be overcome, risks to take, and much to be done. We are busy achieving, serving others, raising children, taking on responsibilities. Life is full of experiences and activity. We are growing, older.

And then we reach the point of aging. That point comes at different times for each of us. It is when the adventure changes from gaining to losing. We are still growing older and it is still an adventure if we are willing to see it as such. The adventure us still unusual, as we've not done it before; it can be exciting if we take on the new challenges boldly; it is hazardous as the risks become greater.

This is aging. We begin to experience more and more losses. We lose our former roles, especially after retirement or when we become dependent on others for care. We lose physical abilities. We lose strength, freedom, opportunities, people, finances, even belongings. It is not uncommon for people to sink into depression at this stage of the adventure as they focus on their losses.

What is helpful, yet often difficult to do, is to view each loss as an opportunity for change. Yes, change is the basis of growing. Nothing grows without changing. Growing older through aging is more change that appear to happen too rapidly. But if we consider the speed of change in the womb, change in aging is not so rapid. It just seems so because we don't desire it.

So how do we embrace those changes? How can we age more comfortably, with greater ease?  How would you do that? Please leave comments with your ideas.