(Taking a break from autism).

I don’t have anything bad to say about old age because the alternative is unacceptable. Those of us past the age of 70 with our health intact (mostly) and our mental abilities intact (mostly) are greatly blessed. We should be grateful. I know that I am old, but I don’t have the time to be “Old”, and I can make that decision.  Romans 12:2 tells us “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind”. Once we renew our mind, we can work on renewing and restoring our body.

I have discovered that you are only as old as you feel. When I felt old, I was “old”. Once I decided that I wasn’t ready to be old, I started doing things differently (eating better, yoga, drinking more water, etc.) All the things that the experts have told us to do. The experts on aging say that we are living longer than ever before. They say that we have to counteract the wear and tear on our body by exercise and taking supplements.

I have discovered that the wisdom and experience we have gained through these years will help us manage our future. I have discovered that we still have a future. We have Life in us yet, and we can still make a contribution to Life. We can’t let younger people count us out because we do have wisdom and experience. We are living in the best of times to be old. George Burns said, “You have to get older, but you don’t have to get old”. I know some old people who are “old”,  but I also know some who are young (like me). What makes the difference?

I have been re-reading “The Greatest Miracle In The World”, by Og Mandino. He is one of my Heroes that I mentioned in my book, “Inspired By Autism”.  Mr. Mandino reminds us that our body is constantly renewing itself, even when we are old. Our heart, lungs, brain, skin, etc are created to constantly recreate us. This had such an impact on me, that when Mr. Mandino came to town, I just had to meet him and tell what an impact he had on my life. I was greatly surprised that he mentioned meeting me in one of his books, “The Secrets For Success & Happiness”.  I was greatly honored.

I’ve discovered that we are survivors. Look at what we’ve been through. Look at all the crises that we have survived. Look at all that we thought was going to be our undoing, but we came through it.  Og Mandino says that we can adjust to any climate, any hardship, any challenge. Joel Osteen says that the troubles that come in your life do not come to break you, that God never intended for you to go through something and get nothing from it. Our trials and tribulations have made us stronger and wiser. Think of all the mistakes that we will never make again. Think of all we have to offer because of what we’ve been through.

Think of all the times  in our life that we’ve had to try to  “hold  it together”. We did! Think of all the times that we’ve had to “get it together”. We did! Think of the times when we finally got it together, but forgot where we put it. (that’s me). We know that we have more past than future, so let’s try to make our future count. 

“For we are saved by hope, but hope seen is not hope. For what a man or woman seeth, why does he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then we do with patience wait for it”.  Romans 8:24,25.

Until next time,’May the Power of  God protect you; May the Love of God enfold you.

Claudreen Jackson