Even though you may not be going through your “later years”, chances are you hope you will get there at some point. Perhaps these observations and thoughts, as I am going through them, might be of some help.
I am now dwelling in my “later years” (as it is charmingly called). The changes this brings – physically sparked, mentally and emotionally affected – are occurring at an ever-increasing pace. How do I deal with this while continuing to view everything through a spiritual lens?
This might help me ... and it might help you:
Awareness: I am writing, whenever the mood strikes me, to record what I am going through.
Assessing: What is it I cannot do that I once did with great joy and abandon, taking for granted I would always be able to? And what viable substitutes can I bring into my life that will truly satisfy me and bring the same benefits?
Acknowledging: Don’t hold back in being honest about what is happening.
Attitude: Thankfulness, thankfulness, thankfulness!
Acceptance: The Serenity Prayer, by an anonymous author, is an excellent example – asking for help, from whatever energy you trust, to accept that which one cannot change, to change the things one can and to know the difference: “God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference.”
My father died when he was my age. One of his last words of wisdom for me was, “The older I get, the more I realize how little I know.” He was a scientific genius, an inventor and sought after internationally as an advisor, so this statement made a big impression.
I am blessed to have, in my circle of close friends, people who are interested in my thoughts as I age. I am surprised by how quickly I seem to have changed from someone who gives opinions to someone who says (and means it), “I don’t know.”
While some of my friends and clients want “my wisdom” – answers to life’s perplexing questions – it is that very wisdom that compels me to say, “I don’t know.”
This doesn’t mean I don’t care; it isn’t an avoidance of opinion.
As I’m saying it, it means, There are infinite possibilities to this matter (whatever it is); it would be presumptuous of me to think and say, “I have the answer.” I often offer comments based on my own experience or on the various situations I have heard from others during my more than 40 years of working in the field of compassionate listening and offering a compassionate heart.
But, the older I get, the more I realize how little I truly know the answers. What does reveal itself to me now is that there are so many more possibilities.
For many years, one of my favourite inspirational leaders has been J. Krishnamurti, whose technique of spiritual leadership (although he was reluctant to see himself in that way) was to ask questions rather than give answers.
I do that more now, as well, to dig deeper and see where this questioning leads, to go to the depth of my experience, which includes my exposure to the works of others.
What excites me is that I will surely find some answers, like little resting stations or treasure-hunt clues, while at the same time knowing I will be guided to another question and the cycle/spiral repeats itself.
Within this past year, I have found this technique of focusing on my own aging process to be fascinating in that I wasn’t expecting it. Somehow, I just thought I would live my life at full throttle and Bam! ... it would be over (for this lifetime, anyway).
I hadn’t envisioned various “parts” giving out before the whole machine expired.
But some parts are wearing down (some may be far from being completely out) and I am, at 72, becoming more and more thankful for those parts that still work at the fullness I enjoyed since my 20s. At the same time, I am paying more attention to examining the decrease in function of these parts.
The opportunity to search is a blessing in itself. And the opportunity to share what I find, with good friends, is another blessing.

Eleanor Velarde is a certified attunement practitioner, teacher and a member of the International Attunement Guild and Right Use of Power International Facilitators’ Guild. Through her business, Hodiyin: Sacred Place, she offers various forms of energy releasing/balancing to encourage whole health and balance in everyday
living. Contact her at 668-3747, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or through
www.wholistichealthyukon.org
/bio/hodiyin.htm.