I learnt that ageing with dignity is not about simply resigning oneself to what is. In other words – letting things go because you’re ‘choosing your battles’.
I’m all for calm and ease-and-flow – living with as few complications as possible.
But, an insight was revealed to me this week – there is a quietly bolder side to ageing with dignity intact. The phrase has been flogged by younger influencers more than older ones and it’s the idea of ‘living unapologetically’. More often than not it’s been attributed to being loud-and-proud, passively aggressive, a friendly kind of rude, or a take-it-or-leave-it characterisation. Nothing synonymous with older, slower, midlife or older folk with accumulated life experience and genuine wisdom.
Ageing unapologetically doesn’t mean being a ‘mean old lady’ or curmudgeon. It can be a quiet and serene version of strength and power.
So, how do they do it?
- They know what they’ve been through,
- have a genuine non-judgmental undertanding of their past,
- and they know how and why they say NO.
Their take-it-or-leave-it is well-informed and isn’t an invitation to confrontation. The answer is either yes or no without justification.
I’m still pondering it. Saying it over and over again like a mantra because it’s good. “Don’t justify, don’t explain (unless it has utility)”.
I like it. It’s calm. And it feels good not to start a sentence with “sorry”.
feature PHOTO: UNSPLASH
