Many changes have occurred in my life in the last few months – I have retired from work I love. I have sold my home and moved from the US (California) to Medellin, Colombia. I am no longer a wife. I am blessedly a first-time grandmother. And all those changes are a direct result of dreaming & setting intention for a New Life. Envisioning what we want & the powerful Law of Attraction are themes I want to explore in more detail later…
Today I am thinking about Aging. In particular, how can we appreciate the blessings? The old joke is to consider the alternative. And there’s the profound realization that so many die young and never reach the richness of this stage. We know that life means impermanence, that things are changing in every moment. Despite all our desires to feel secure and know what is coming next, we really only have the Present Moment. What is sometimes uncomfortable is to notice the changes in body, mind and spirit that come in the process.
Recently I came across a wonderful article called The Psychological Tasks of Old Age by Victoria Howard, PhD. Dr Howard identifies four tasks:
1. The Richness of Slowing Down – allowing us to connect to our outer and inner worlds, the body and the earth.
2. Life Review – awakening dawns as we age & can find the patterns/digest the learning. The Elder-as-Artist comes alive. Journaling invited here!
3. Transmission – Elder-as-Teacher/ a rain of blessings is possible as elders mentor and nurture the coming generations.
4. Letting Go – re-defined as Cutting Loose!
medellinpsychotherapy 