Last Friday we discussed the quote from the movie Shawshank Redemption on whether to get busy living or busy dying. In the last couple days, I went back to a book I really love about aging well. Written by Joan Chittister, it's called The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully.
Underscoring what the movie line said, Chittister writes, "It is unnecessary to consider ourselves useless—unless we choose to be useless. It is unnecessary to think of ourselves as diminished—unless we allow ourselves to diminish in heart and mind.
"The point is that there are two approaches to aging: passive aging and active aging. Passive aging gives way to the creeping paralysis of the soul that goes with the natural changes of the body. ... Active aging cooperates with the physical effects of age by adjusting to a change of pace. ... Active aging requires us to go on living life to the full no matter how differently."
Again, we have a choice. We can get busy living or get busy dying. Our attitude toward aging makes all the difference.
Showing posts with label dying. Show all posts
Showing posts with label dying. Show all posts
Monday, February 6, 2017
Friday, February 3, 2017
Living? Or dying?
Remember that great line from the movie Shawshank Redemption? It's when Andy says, "I guess it comes down to a simple choice, really. Get busy living or get busy dying."
That quote packs a punch when you really stop to think about it. It's easy to brush it off, however, and think it really has nothing to do with us. That's for others, not me. However, there are several ways to die. Some are slow, not quick. And some are figurative, not literal.
It seems to me that if we're busy focusing on the past and all the grudges, hurts and missed opportunities that have accumulated over the years, that's a slow way to die. We're not really alive and present to the time and opportunities right in front of us. If we're completely focused on all the negative things around us (and these days, it seems easy enough to do that because there's so much animosity out there), we're not savoring and enjoying the present time either. Some would say that's not quality of life. We've lived another day. But is that how we want to spend our lives? And if we give up on goals because they're just too hard to reach or nothing good ever seems to happen for us, that too seems more like dying than really living.
So you see, there's much more to Andy's quote than what might meet the eye. And it seems a good thing to ask ourselves from time to time: Am I busy living? Or am I busy dying?
That quote packs a punch when you really stop to think about it. It's easy to brush it off, however, and think it really has nothing to do with us. That's for others, not me. However, there are several ways to die. Some are slow, not quick. And some are figurative, not literal.
It seems to me that if we're busy focusing on the past and all the grudges, hurts and missed opportunities that have accumulated over the years, that's a slow way to die. We're not really alive and present to the time and opportunities right in front of us. If we're completely focused on all the negative things around us (and these days, it seems easy enough to do that because there's so much animosity out there), we're not savoring and enjoying the present time either. Some would say that's not quality of life. We've lived another day. But is that how we want to spend our lives? And if we give up on goals because they're just too hard to reach or nothing good ever seems to happen for us, that too seems more like dying than really living.
So you see, there's much more to Andy's quote than what might meet the eye. And it seems a good thing to ask ourselves from time to time: Am I busy living? Or am I busy dying?
Friday, March 13, 2015
Fears about living & dying
I saw the movie "Still Alice" the other night. I have heard that thanks to this movie and the book on which it's based, Alzheimer's Disease is finally getting some attention—and perhaps some funding for research and maybe even cures. That's a good thing.
This movie also can heighten our fears about the aging process, about dying, even about living. Fears aren't a bad thing, however. They can help us explore and grow. They can help us learn more about ourselves and about life. (That doesn't mean you need to see the movie, of course!)
I invite you to consider a couple questions today. I intend to reflect on them myself. What do you fear about dying? What do you fear about living?
Perhaps another question would be: What do you fear about aging?
I don't always deal well with such questions because it touches into my vulnerability—and for me, that's still a growing edge. But I want to get more in touch with that flip side of the strength coin because I think it's important for me to do so. Perhaps you already do well with being vulnerable. If not, please join me on this journey of discovery.
This movie also can heighten our fears about the aging process, about dying, even about living. Fears aren't a bad thing, however. They can help us explore and grow. They can help us learn more about ourselves and about life. (That doesn't mean you need to see the movie, of course!)
I invite you to consider a couple questions today. I intend to reflect on them myself. What do you fear about dying? What do you fear about living?
Perhaps another question would be: What do you fear about aging?
I don't always deal well with such questions because it touches into my vulnerability—and for me, that's still a growing edge. But I want to get more in touch with that flip side of the strength coin because I think it's important for me to do so. Perhaps you already do well with being vulnerable. If not, please join me on this journey of discovery.
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