The Art of Growing

The ageing book on the go at the moment is – The Art of Growing Old, by Carroll Saussy. It was first published in 1998, so is rapidly growing “older” itself. She makes a lot of sense, and I was interested in her life plans regarding her aim to write a follow up in ten years’ time. Interestingly enough, she hasn’t written the book, but has changed her lifestyle completely – leaving teaching and becoming an artist. Her webpage gives a picture of her life nowadays. Very different from what she had intended, but a testament to someone whose life has been open to change and challenge.

As you can tell, I am enjoying the book immensely; each chapter has meditations and reflections which help to put the reader’s life into the picture too. A worthwhile tool and a worthwhile read. Theology is in the frame at the moment because of the course I am doing, and this quote from Saussy sums up much of what is relevant to the self as well as to God’s work in us. – She is encouraging readers in this chapter to look at the past and make sense of it…… and goes on……

Life reviewers are empowered through the discovery, conflict resolution, and integration that retelling their story often entails, sometimes experiencing the whole process as religious atonement, at-one-ment, or coming to deep peace with one’s life.

Isn’t that what we all want as we grow older?

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3 Responses to The Art of Growing

  1. Tabor says:

    I have inner peace. It is challenge I miss. The future is too gray. I need a mountain or two to climb. I am not a religious person although I do believe there is an spirit of goodness in all of us and combined it can be very powerful.

  2. Lyn says:

    From my experience in counseling, I have to say that I think we can’t always make sense of the past, but I do believe that if we take time to look back and see the path, the places we stumbled or were tripped, it helps to settle us in our present and guide us in understanding that “life happens.” I think it has helped me to have forgiveness for myself and others for what happened in my life that wasn’t in the category of “good memories.”

    My last few years (60+) have led to a lot of peace for me. I still don’t understand many of the events in my life, but I have looked them over, decided what to keep and not, and I’m content. I still look, think, consider, weigh things, but I have spiritual peace and joy. It’s too bad younger folks can’t make themselves let go of some of the time-stealing activities and use that time to ponder their lives and find peace at an earlier age.

  3. freda says:

    The chapter of the book I read last night was about looking to the future, Tabor, and it emphasised the importance of challenge, hence my taking up the challenge to re-read War and Peace.
    I’m trying to work towards peace, Lynn, and think you give good advice on deciding what to keep of the past or discard. I’ll try to be more positive about those things that still trouble me sometimes. Thanks

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