I’m entering my junior year according to your octogenarian friend’s reckoning. And, indeed, things do change. Like you, most of the spiritual practices that served me for many years no longer do. I find that the journey continues, although the path seems to have led me back to my original practice although I see it with new eyes and, hopefully, with some wisdom gained over the years.
When I was young I didn’t really want to be young. Now that I am not young, I still don’t want to be young, but I am also discovering, like you, that actually not being young is both much different to being young and requires different approaches to everything, including age, than being young did. It’s strange to have never idolized youth in a culture that is so fixated on it, I find, and to simultaneously have to negotiate all the detritus of that cultural fixation.
I found being young very difficult. I love growing older. I didn’t expect it, of course. See: addiction. But here I am anyway trying to make sense of it. Thanks for your insights.
Graduation to my senior year is in October. Thank you so much for all of this. And my Grace is the same as yours, which makes the resonance that much stronger.
Your words really hit this morning. I mean, I'm not out of junior high yet (according to your friend), so I'm just a kid here, but the old ways of being (including spiritual practices) have passed, It's the living and the doing and the making that mean more to me than the soaking and the meditating. I would have expected the opposite, but I'm not in control here, not even of myself.
I really loved this today! This is mind meditation for me! I’m waaay too ADD to sit still and meditate, but reflecting on thoughtful writing is balm to my soul! Thanks, Tripp!
Thanks, Tripp.
A beautiful meditation on aging.
I’m entering my junior year according to your octogenarian friend’s reckoning. And, indeed, things do change. Like you, most of the spiritual practices that served me for many years no longer do. I find that the journey continues, although the path seems to have led me back to my original practice although I see it with new eyes and, hopefully, with some wisdom gained over the years.
Thanks, again, brother for the thoughtful words.
Thank you, Paul. Beware the sophomore slump! Ha! Blessings on the journey.
When I was young I didn’t really want to be young. Now that I am not young, I still don’t want to be young, but I am also discovering, like you, that actually not being young is both much different to being young and requires different approaches to everything, including age, than being young did. It’s strange to have never idolized youth in a culture that is so fixated on it, I find, and to simultaneously have to negotiate all the detritus of that cultural fixation.
I found being young very difficult. I love growing older. I didn’t expect it, of course. See: addiction. But here I am anyway trying to make sense of it. Thanks for your insights.
Graduation to my senior year is in October. Thank you so much for all of this. And my Grace is the same as yours, which makes the resonance that much stronger.
It all fits. Comfortably.
Thanks again.
Your words really hit this morning. I mean, I'm not out of junior high yet (according to your friend), so I'm just a kid here, but the old ways of being (including spiritual practices) have passed, It's the living and the doing and the making that mean more to me than the soaking and the meditating. I would have expected the opposite, but I'm not in control here, not even of myself.
I really loved this today! This is mind meditation for me! I’m waaay too ADD to sit still and meditate, but reflecting on thoughtful writing is balm to my soul! Thanks, Tripp!