“The world is made up of stories, not atoms.” Muriel Rukeyser
We are surrounded by stories – our own and everybody else’s. Some we take seriously, some we believe, some make us laugh, some make us cry. We are having a great time these days sharing stories about aging with our friends. They are full of humor and pathos. Often they are shocking to us because they are such a stark reminder that we are truly getting old.
We are not who we used to be, and neither is the world around us. Many stories are from our families – and we find ourselves reevaluating them, rewriting them. What rules have been worth following? Which are we ready to let go of? Why are my stories different than my siblings? What does success actually mean? And can we let ourselves enjoy any measure of it we may have achieved?
For many of us this is a real time of freedom – our kids are grown, our money is our own. What’s next? While many people do have a bucket list, we are talking today about something more basic, simple and pervasive here – do you have a story that allows you to be joyfully present in this moment? Not guilty about the past, or frantic about the future? All possibilities are here. A friend was telling me a story about another friend who is enriching her life by seeing how many new things she can try every month – and it can be as simple as having prepared meals delivered and seeing if she likes them! Or learning the local trolley schedule and buzzing around town that way. Many of our stories are full of shoulds and should nots, cautionary tales. And most of us have followed those most of our lives – good people that we are!
Now may be the time to stretch some of those limits and write yourself some new stories. And share them with friends – and us! We’re fascinated by how we’re all adapting to aging and the stories we’re creating around it all!
Ask yourself –
Where do I have more freedom than in the past?
What stories am I done with?
Get out and try something new this week! Patty & Suzanne
Liz and Dharma Story Updates here!