Relevant Aging

by Jack Lee

Our journey through life naturally creates circles of friends and family. And of course, the size of those circles ebb and flow with the times.  My observation is when, once we get past 60, that “ebb and flow” in our lives is usually replaced with noticeable erosion.

Exactly when we discover we’re old depends on the person, but we’re all headed in that direction.  Some of us may look into the mirror one day and wonder, “How in the heck did this happen?”  Obviously denial has a lot to do with the surprise effect.  I think this denial is fairly common in Western society because we’re so uptight about the subjects of death and aging.  Although, I have to admit we’re doing better, but maybe its because there’s never been more of us over 60?

Author Susan Moon wrote this bit of irony on aging, “As I get older I am turning into myself. The job is gone, the kids have moved far away, and my parents are dead. I can’t backpack anymore and no more hip hop either. Who am I, really? Now I get to find out.”

I started thinking about aging, life and death following a funeral for a longtime best friend. For 44 years he was a prominent figure in my family and let me tell you, it’s a pretty big loss when someone like that passes away.   I was invited to say a few words and  I was soon recounting a few fond memories like most people do at such times.   Looking back this person had a considerable influence on my family and even on my life.   In that sense we’re a little bit of everyone we’ve ever known. Some will have more influence than others, but all contributed something, even though it might have been too subtle to notice at the time.

My take away from the funeral was, in the final analysis, everybody matters.  That’s a legacy handed down from our pervious generations and it’s we will pass along our share too.   This makes everybody relevant…if only subtly and in our own unique way.   It means there’s value built into all of us from the time we’re born.  Everybody has value and a mission to share it, it’s our reason for being.

“His hair isn’t turning gray—it’s turning silver, and it’s going up in value.”
― Jarod Kintz,