Topic Tuesday #122 2014/11/18 - "Aging Gracefully" 

I just had a birthday, so of course - mortality is on my mind. I choose not to think of all the depth of aging, but on the refinement of dignity. My hair is losing its pigment. Getting out of a comfortable chair is a process, the majority of which is motivation. Working hard on things is still the aim, but certain measures are put into place to put pain at bay; the knee pads, the breaks, the walking around to get circulation going, breathing and hearing protection, snack breaks to keep blood sugar right. 

Basically... I find that as I have aged, I tend to think about how I do the things I do far more than I used to. I do the things I should have been doing all along. Every decision point does have lasting effects on the rest of my day, and if I'm careless, the rest of my life and forever altering the lives around me. 

Perhaps this is wisdom creeping up on me. Perhaps this is what being a responsible person means: looking at the moment and seeing the long term implications. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm still a stupid fallible human that just wants to sit down with friends and a good bottle and piss the night away... I just know that that might not be the BEST use of my time, and the ramifications that will be dealt with the next day... Well... that bottle and those friends better be worth it. Fortunately, part of being wiser, is realizing that even time wasted can be time well spent, as great memories are all the past ought to be.

Cheers!