William James, philosopher and psychologist observed, “… when we reach the end of our days, our life experience will equal what we have paid attention to, whether by choice or default.”
I’m over 60., but I don’t care,. I don’t choose to pay attention to my age most of the time “Age is only a number.”
There are occasional reminders that I’m not the number 20 or 30– Getting out of a chair after sitting for a while is interesting.
I don’t go to Denny’s at 4 in the morning, wear short skirts, somersault, anymore, but I don’t miss those things.
I’d rather stay home and write than go to a party or a bar or anywhere there’s a crowd.
If our life experience equals what we have paid attention to, I want it to equal the way a paint brush can make the sun rise on a white piece of paper even if it’s four in the afternoon –
I want it to equal a belly laugh, waltzing, watching a comet passing by in the night sky
the way dogs wiggle when they walk
I want it to equal the rare thrill of successfully parallel parking on the first try
I want my life experience to equal standing in the path of a wave that will roll to the shore whether you’re standing in its way or not, baptizing you with the cold shock of courage required to leave behind the comfort of being dry and warm in exchange for the sea enveloping you in her wild nature at dawn
I never want to take for granted dark chocolate covered almonds
the way people smile at you even when they don’t know you
the way you can burp a pickle jar to make it open easier
the liquid light that lingers on a raindrop lingering on a rose after a rain
a rose … period
the peace inside, that’s there no matter what
I never want to take for granted
the words table for two, please
the words thank you
the words.. I do..
I’m recording this a month and a half since I said “I do”
Someone asked, “Why do you feel you need to get married - you’re in your sixties?”
I’m happy to answer.
I don’t need to…I’ve learned I am enough alone. The reason is, I want to.
I want to look into the eyes of the least annoying person in my world and say, “I could laugh with you for the rest of my life and not get tired of it” and hear him say, something like that back, I want have a long meaningful kiss with him right in front of a bunch of friends without worrying about grossing them out
I want to walk in a room of friends and they and applaud our love.
My heart …is also applauding, for the courage I mustered up to try again.
I want to eat white cake with strawberry frosting, take shoes off , dance, and feel like we are 17 …
17 is way too young to get married,
But we do anyway… because … age is only a number
Our life experience can be more than our aches and pains, political divisions, worry a judgment, and your preoccupation with getting older – there are so many things of wonder and love around us, but we default to the negative… we’ve got to go find the good stuff or pay attention to it, because most of them are right there now.
What are you paying attention to?
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Brought to you by Kaizen Muse Creativity Coaching Certification Training
Written, narrated, and engineered by Jill Badonsky
Music and sound effects by Epidemic Sound
Upcoming art and creativity programs www.themuseisin.com