"Sometimes ya gotta let go of a lot of old stuff..."

"And ya gotta learn a bunch of new stuff."  Words of wisdom from former Special Agent Mike Franks, a totally fictional character sharing a lot of very real wisdom.

 

Twin traits that a grounded elder is considerably better able at doing than even a youngster like 63-year old moi.  Wise elders realize they're not their bodies - while their physical being in breaking down, their spirit is still strong.  The wise elder accepts that a whole bunch of stuff he or she held as sacrosanct is possibly not as iron-clad as seemed in younger years, that fresh perspectives & new vantage points are creating unexpected beliefs & even values.  

And that that's the way it's meant to be.

That as we age up up up through the years, we ideally get the ability to look back over them with a discerning eye & hopefully a lot less judgment.  Judgment is a luxury of youth.  The wise elder has seen too much & realizes she's learn too little absolute truth to be as judgmental as in her younger years.  

Wise elders know how to let go of a lot of old stuff & are willing to learn a bunch of new, know what to hold close, what to release, what to renew & how to refresh.  

I'm not there yet, might never get there.  But I'm blessed to know quite a few who have.  I might never be a wise elder, but praise be I know what they look like!