I am getting older…yet I feel young on the inside!
By Shirley Moulton - Founder, The ACADEMi of Life, NYC
Most of us are so afraid of getting old and as a result don’t embrace the aging process. What is this thing called growing old and why am I so afraid of it? Why do I spend hours plucking any visible signs of grey hairs from my scalp? (If I keep this up I am going to be bald very soon) As I lament getting older, the crazy thing is I feel young on the inside. Is there a difference between inner age and outer age?
From the outside I see and feel that the years are rapidly passing by, yet on the inside I feel calm, young and vital. When I look at photographs of myself I notice that my looks change from decade to decade, however the daily looks at me in the mirror don't reveal the dramatic changes of the aging process. I am grateful for the gradual, imperceptible daily rate of the aging, giving me time to grow accustomed to my face.
I recently read an article on celebrating older women by British actress, Harriet Walter and she concludes that ‘there’s something within us that lasts beyond youth and that we shouldn’t feel insecure and scared about getting older.’ Eckhart Tolle, author and spiritual teacher believes that ‘the inner aliveness never gets old…there is the eternal, timeless, formless dimension that you feel on the inside… pay attention to the inner age and less on your external age,’ he counsels.
I realize that a big part of the insecurity and fear of aging is the fear of dying. I am reminded that it's the destiny of all forms; a flower, an apple, a pet or a human being, to age and die. I believe we should be taught at an early age that aging is inevitable and acceptance of our wrinkles, grey hair and gradual decline is our destiny. With acceptance comes peace and if we can accept this fact, then we can truly make peace with aging.
Tolle also believes that when the physical form starts to age, the state of ‘Being’ is more valuable to us than the state of ‘Doing’ and we should attempt to get in touch with that inner age, that inner aliveness that never ages…our spirits. In older civilizations old people embody the realm of spirit and are deeply respected and revered and I think we need to learn how to honor this sacredness in aging which could bring us to a deeper dimension in our lives.
I think this is good advice and I am going to heed it!
