As I was pondering this, I came across this poem that my cutie pie daughter wrote several years ago.
The Trail
by Janie Lane
Ever since we were young, the long, dusty trail has entertained us.
In the summer, it looks miserable to walk down, but we do it anyway.
We walk next to the highway.
We walk all the way to the end of the cow pasture.
We sit on the dirt mound and find rotting dogs in the pipes.
We throw empty beer bottles into the sewer and drop rocks into the farmer's bowl of water.
Then, we walk back.
Everything in life really is a journey, right? We go forward. Sometimes, we take a detour. Sometimes, we even go backward. There have been times in my life when my journey led me down a trail that was straight and narrow and extremely easy to navigate. You know, those times in life when you have a schedule you can maintain and you just move through your day with no bumps in the road and no potholes to avoid. For the most part, though, my trail has been windy, full of surprises, and not easy to navigate at all. Those curves in the road have come in the form of cancer, financial woes, and heartache, but they have always led to gorgeous pastures at the end.
So, I keep moving along which ever trail comes my way. In fact, I seek out new trails all the time.
In the literal sense, I look for new trails to hike. This is how this whole post came into my mind. This friend that I was conversing with yesterday, said that she would love to lose weight so that she can hike, and that if she was younger, she would go with me. You know what? I have never felt like age is a handicap when I'm out on a trail soaking up nature. Did you know that hiking can lower your risk of heart disease? Are you ever too old to lower your risk of heart disease? I think not people! So, are you ever too old to follow your passions whether that's hiking, painting, or volunteering? I'm going to go with no.
What about dressing your age? Hmmm . . . What exactly does that mean? If I'm over 50, I can't wear skinny jeans anymore? If I'm over 40, I can't wear my hair past my shoulders any more? If I'm over 30, I can't wear bright red lipstick any more? Who is this magical, invisible person who is telling us what we can and can't wear? My great aunt Tootie was a great role model. As she got older, she decided that she didn't want to conform to the idea that older ladies need short hair. She said, "I'm going to grow my hair to my ass." And, she did. A couple of years ago, I was in a thrift store, and I saw a super cute retro dress. I was asking my mom if the dress looked to young for me. An older lady overheard and said to me, "There is no too old." I bought the dress, and to this day, it is one of my favorites. I refuse to let anyone tell me what I should look like, what I should wear, or how I should do my hair. My body. My choice. So, is there a time when we are too old to dress a certain way? Again, a big 'ol NO!
There's a term we use a lot in the school district where I work -- life long learning. I don't know if you are aware of this, but learning is essential to our existence. When you stop learning, you have given up. I'm sure you've heard that age is just a number, but let me give you a little extra evidence so that you really get it. Gladys Burrill ran a marathon at age 92. Colonel Sanders didn't become the famous chicken mogul until he was 65. Martha Stewart didn't publish her first book until she was 41. Morgan Freeman's career didn't take off until he was 52. Stan Lee created his first comic book when he was 39. So, do we ever get "too old" to try new things or to go after your healthiest body ever? You guessed it. Nope!
And are we ever "too old" to find love? Love comes in all types of forms, and yes, you can still find romantic love up until the day you leave this world. I know people who have married in their 70s and even 80s. Gives me hope.
I don't care if I'm 49, 59, or 89, I will continue to look for new adventures everywhere and every day.
On those days when the trail is arduous, just go down it anyway. When it looks miserable, keep going. The trail isn't always easy, but it is always worthwhile, and it doesn't really matter how old you are, which direction you go, or where you end up. What matters is that you keep on moving, you keep on exploring, and that you keep on enjoying the journey whether you're in your 20s or your 80s, whether you're at your healthiest or working toward a better body, or whether you're in the midst of cancer or in remission. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, "Don't go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
Light and love, my friends. Enjoy the journey this week.