There are so many conversations that happen at blue door; everything under the sun, really.
One conversation that really made me ponder was after Functional Fitness today with a group of our wise elders. They were discussing aging and everything it brings to the surface. D said that hitting 80 really makes you take stock of your life, what you’ve achieved, how you’ve lived, and the legacy you leave behind. It also makes you ponder what to do with all the “stuff” you’ve accumulated over the years. She said that most of the stuff she has no one else is going to want; they’re not going to have the same emotional/sentimental attachment to it. We all nodded our heads in agreement. D also said something else about aging well and how blue door has played a role in this, but we will get to that later.
I shared with the group that Brian and I have been feeling the same way. We have this large house, large barn, large property with ALL THIS STUFF and who’s going to want it? Since I was stuck at home for a week with COVID, I looked around at all the 1/2 finished projects, the abandoned hobbies, the stuff, and realized that it’s time to begin culling so that the kids don’t have to do it. Hitting your mid-to-late-50s makes you take stock of the fact that you have fewer years ahead of you than are behind you. It’s not a morbid thought, just reality. There’s that famous quote, “None of us are leaving alive.” As D said, “Being in your 80s makes this all the more real.”
As for the role blue door is playing in the lives of our elders, D said she appreciates that we have created a space for elders to be seen and thrive. I used to start my Chair Yoga classes with a few minutes of “social hour.” An opportunity for the students to share about their week, day, life. This wasn’t a throw-away part of the class; it was one of THE most important aspects of the class. As we age, our social circle becomes smaller and smaller, and we have all realized, after 2020, how important social interactions are to our health and well-being. You can have every need met, but if you don’t have touch, emotional connection, love, you will wither.
So, the question is, how are you living your life? Is it in alignment with who you want to be? Are you where you thought you would be? Or have you made a detour that is surprisingly scenic and perfect? Have you touched others in a way that makes your heart+soul happy?
Every day, I choose to be the best version of myself. And, now, I’m going to go get rid of something so my children aren’t burdened with all my “stuff.” Xx Jesi
2/21/2023
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