Old age

Being grateful for life and also for getting older. This has been dawning on me more and more in recent years. I have developed greater respect for people who have lived many years, and that feels like a consequence of being allowed to get older.

In conversations with older people, ageing comes up on multiple occasions. I invariably hear that old age brings its imperfections. I can now confirm this, as my body has also grown a little stooped with the passing years, my speed diminishes year by year, and my lungs wheeze ever louder. The body does not improve with age. Old age brings thoughts of transience and experiences more vulnerability. Eventually, there will be farewells to loved ones.

However, old age also has its beautiful sides to life at an older age. Most older people's ability to put things into perspective increases, they are more accepting of what happens, enjoy the day, and wisdom is in unprecedented abundance.

Elderly people pray more than most young people. Pensioners of a somewhat advanced age talk about Mary more often and look forward to meeting Her.

I am Maria, grateful for life and express this to Her daily. The fragile existence is clearer to me than ever and I enjoy everything I can still do. The old age can increase a bit more, as I don't feel worn out yet. I am not old-fashioned. Or am I mistaken...