Episode 963 Embracing the Era: Finding Contentment in Growing Older

Hi, everyone. It's a very, very good afternoon from Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Central Australia. This is episode 963. It's Blind Magic in Alice Springs, and I am your host and presenter Murray Stewart.

Accepting who and what we are, in my view, is the key to happiness, which means it's the key to contentment, which is the greatest state of all. Because being content means that we are so happy to wake up each and every morning and confront the day.

I am learning to just accept the era of my life that I am in. That's right, accept. I'm 61 years of age and I am now in a process of accepting that I am growing older. The good news about age is that you do have qualities, new qualities, that you otherwise would not have had if you were granted a wish to be younger. Because with age, we do have additional wisdom and we can call on our experiences to not only pass on to others, but to enshrine within our own life.

Recently, I made a decision that I would never again climb up ladders because of the risks involved. I also made a decision that on a holiday coming up, I would not partake in bungee jumping that otherwise would have been on offer. It's very, very cold at night and in the morning in Central Australia, and I don't think it would be a wise decision for me, considering my health challenges, to do such a thing. It keeps me safe here at home not to challenge that as not climbing ladders keeps me safe, as not doing the bungee jumping keeps me safe. Am I forlorn about that? No, because I am accepting the era of my life.

Growing older is an inevitability for all of us. None of us are escaping the ageing process. So enjoy it. Accept it. Love it. And know that you are amazing because of your age. The things that you can do now because of your wisdom and your built-up experience, you could not have done when you were younger. So yes enjoy the brand new you the older person that is amazing who can do wonderful things albeit different things that's okay and it also allows you to have wonderful relationships with the younger folk in your life and you can be around for longer so they can enjoy the older person you are.

If you are content, if you are happy and you are amazing, then you are going to be around a lot longer. How beautiful is that? That is absolutely amazing, is it not? There is that song by Willie Nelson called Don't Let the Old Man In. Well, I'm afraid to say none of us, as I said, can prevent the aging process, but we can stand strong alongside wisdom. And in doing so, in becoming selective about the things that we can or perhaps cannot do, then we are going to live an amazing rest of our wonderful life. In fact, this is a new life within itself. Don't fight it. Enjoy it. Don't fight it. Enjoy it love it be amazing be incredible rejoice in your new found life.

That's exactly what I intend to do. Let go any angst, let go any reservations, let go any sadness. And in doing so, and in accepting the era of the life that I am in, I am determined to be amazing. I am determined to be incredible. And more importantly, I am determined to love this era of my life. And if I'm doing that, then I will be a better person for all of those around me. Everyone, my friends, my children, the community at large. I've got a lot more to contribute, folks. and I intend doing it. So if you're out there and you're trying to fight the inevitability of age, don't do that. Let it go. Accept, understand, and love the era of the life that you are now in. It actually is a brand new beginning. It's a different life, but it's a beautiful life. It's a wonderful life. Go forth and be amazing.

This has been episode 963, a Blind Magic Communications production.