Birthdays

 Birthdays…

Interesting thing about birthdays – there’s no going back.  But there’s no reason to assume we have to feel older. 

I’m three days into being 83 and nothing has changed from being 82.  Or for that matter, being 79 or 75.  And the clothes that I wore at 75, and even 65, still fit. 

My brain is also functioning well, as evidenced by my continuing desire to learn, to create, to explore, and to be aware of the events going on in the world.  And most of all, challenge my mind with ideas, regardless of the subject or where they take me.  I find this to be one on life’s greatest pleasures:  ‘excitement,’ something I never want to lose.  And when mixed with ‘enthusiasm,’ life is wonderful.

Although it sometimes produces a strong emotion, I can review and assess the merits of complex legal cases before the courts, and form my own opinions as to the proper application of law and justice.  I adjust my opinions when deemed necessary to balance the misapplication of either law or justice, especially when an injustice is obvious. 

My only physical deficiencies are my fading eyesight and my occasional bouts with dizziness and balance.  But I can still see, and the dizziness and balance challenges are never permanent, or even a concern for very long.

I figure the accumulation of aches and pains is probably due to my not religiously performing all of the recommended and scheduled preventive medical suggestions, intaking the proper fuel, not going places and doing things, and being horizontally stationary far more than being vertical and in motion. 

Finally, I accept the fact that I’m on the short list of life.  But I like to think I have some control over when and how the end comes.  I will die with a few regrets and fewer apologies – the most notable being that I never learned to play a musical instrument, and I apologize to those who were forced to listen when I tried. 

As for the greatest of all human traits, Love is by far the driving force of a fulfilling life.  To love and be loved has no boundaries and encompasses everything important in life.  It is the measure of a truly wonderful life.

In other words, I’m okay being me just the way I am right now, and hopefully for a few more birthdays. 

I think my goal now is to simply enjoy the rest of my life.

 

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