The Autumn of Life
Time remorselessly rambles down the corridors and streets of our lives. But it is not until autumn that most of us become aware that our tickets are stamped with a terminal destination. – Joe L. Wheeler
During the cool of autumn, many plants start to fade away and close down. They seem to be preparing themselves for the harsh cold winter days ahead.
On the other hand, there are some that appear to burst into new life as the season changes. One of those is Autumn Joy, or Stonecrop (sedum). During the spring and summer, this plant is rather ordinary. It’s a succulent with leaves that are green and puffy but not particularly remarkable. It doesn't show off flashy blossoms to compete with other beautiful flowers. But, in the fall, the Autumn Joy seems to leap into life. At first the blossoms develop a pale pink tint. Then the pink turns into a lovely shade of rose. Finally, the Autumn Joy peaks, showing off its luscious, deep burgundy flowers.
Reflecting on the way this plant evolves over time makes me think about how we too move through the phases of our lives. We are not ruled by the seasons but if we are fortunate, each one of us will approach and enter our own Autumn season.
We live in a society that fears aging and rarely values the wisdom or the beauty of people who are in the autumn of their lives. Indeed, we seldom appreciate the possibilities for growth and pleasure that come our way as we grow older. Sadly, we may not be aware of how lovely and vivid we can become as we move into the autumn of our lives – like the beautiful Autumn Joy flower.
Life is brief, and with every passing day it grows shorter. We might have twenty to sixty more years to live. On the other hand, we may have only one day left. As we move through life, we would do well to be thoughtful about what we choose to do with our precious days in the world. We might want to focus on how we will use our remaining time on earth and what is important or special to us.
Indeed, it’s sobering to think that there might not be a whole lot of time left for us to live. We could totter from one day to the next, checking off our to-do lists, trying to fortify our lives against worries and problems. Then we likely would die weary and disappointed, regrettably wondering whether we were ever truly alive.
But when we begin to face our own autumn of life, that sense of impermanence may heighten our feelings of preciousness. The realization that we are no longer in the first half of life may provide an opportunity to live life fully with joy and gratitude – no matter how much time we have left to live. And we may be surprised to discover that we have lived life beautifully; with our own rhythm and in our own time – like the Autumn Joy.
· Do you have a dream about what you would still like to do?
· How do you plan to use your remaining time on earth?
Live your life beautifully and inspirationally.
Joy Carol