Do you ever wonder what old age has in store for you? How old do you feel inside? Where would you like to age? The way we answer these questions – our perspectives on age and growing older are shaped by our life story. Our parents and grandparents will have shaped our views. Those around us play their part: both those who have loved us and those who have hurt us. So what shapes age and our story of age?

The way we age is shaped by our personality, our vices and virtues. Look at this image below and ask yourself what it is that you see. What do the people in the picture represent for us?

  The way we age is shaped by our passion and our beliefs; by our chioces and decisions. What kind of people do we wish to be and become? When we close our eyes of what do we dream? The way we age is shaped by our courage and honesty – and for many – the way in which we tackle adversity.

The way we age is shaped by those who listen to us and those who refuse to listen to us. We are shaped by those things that are loathsome and wish to fight. What are we prepared to fight for and for which we would gladly make a stand. The way we age is shaped by what kind of comunity we live in. Above all the way we age depends upon our ability to live in the present place: how we inhabit this day, this place, this home and in this room.

The way we age depends upon the shape of our heart – and to let that heart spread goodness and love. The way we age depends upon our committment to change and enlightenment and to know that whatever our birth age we have power to make a difference! The way we age depends upon our ability to emabrace the changes and losses of life – and to celebrate them in all their fertile possibility.

How do you want to age?