Embracing Vitality:
I love the word ‘vitality’. When I hear, say, or write it, I get a very clear mental image of a life lived with positive energy and to the fullest! As a matter of fact, two of Webster’s definitions of vitality are; “capacity to live and develop”, and “physical or mental vigor.” The great thing about vitality is that there is no age limit attached to it. While society often tries to categorize people as too old (or too young), we can choose to reject that notion. It’s up to each of us to claim our vitality at any age.
While reading an article in a magazine recently, I came across an ad for Isla bikes. Apparently, they make bikes for people of all ages and physical capabilities. Perhaps you are a biker and have heard of this company. I had not. What drew my attention, was there slogan. (Excellent marketing on their part.) The slogan reads; “Aging is not lost youth, but a new age of opportunity and strength.” Read that again. Let it soak in until you can form a vision of what that opportunity and strength does or could look like in your life. You might write this slogan down and post it where you will see it at least once each day as inspiration and a reminder that no matter what your age or physical capacity, there are still opportunities for you to create a life you love with vitality, and at any age.
Being a ‘senior’ comes with WAY more perks than a 10% discount at the fast food chains. It’s a time to establish our own schedules, learn and try new things, enjoy more leisure time, or perhaps start a new business! We all have an expiration date. Most of us don’t know when that is, and I believe we are meant to live our lives with gratitude and vitality in the meantime.
I have a confession to make. Although I am a baby boomer, I was never a hard rock fan. Apparently, a number of the rock stars of the 1960’s and ’70’s are leaving the planet, and it’s the first time I have heard of many of them. It’s true, I was a very square peg growing up. My friends know, however, that I have been a huge fan of Engelbert Humperdinck since he first came on the music scene. (Stop laughing. I love a good love song.) I mention this, because while listening to his song, “Don’t Let The Old Man In”, recently, one line in particular resonated with me, and I knew I wanted to share it with you in today’s musings. The line is simply, “Ask yourself how old you would be, if you didn’t know the day you were born?” What a great question! Are you living your life in a way society says is ‘age appropriate’? Or, are you embracing your vitality, setting new goals, and seizing opportunities to truly live life on purpose? Life changes, but opportunities to learn and grow always exist. So, whether you’ve been wanting to spend more time building relationships, learning a new hobby, volunteering in your community, writing a book, or starting a new business, I hope you will embrace your vitality and take the next step toward your goal and not allow life to be defined by age. It’s just a number after all. And, by the way, Engelbert Humperdinck is 84, still has a good set of pipes, and he’s still cranking out beautiful love songs:)
Blessings,
Coach M