Aging Flawlessly

As the youngest of my older brothers turns 40 today, it makes me think about the new age demographic I will be joining in a few years. My younger guy friend asked me how I felt about turning 40. I told him that it didn’t bother me since I hear that’s when women are in their prime. I also said that by 40 I hope that I will be financially fabulous (not having money woes because all of my bills are paid, I am debt free, have a hefty, healthy and diverse investment portfolio and my family is all financially free as well) and doing what I love as a career.

To tell the truth, my 30′s have been pretty hellish. If anything they are teaching me how to navigate life’s ups and downs with grace and acceptance. I’m still a pupil at Life’s Let it Flow Academy, but I’m at least a sophomore.  One of the things I’ve come to terms with is that I can’t turn back the clock, and that I don’t want to. I have a finite amount of time on this Earth in this body. The way I skid into the casket at the end will be an indication of the life I lived. I’ve already aged myself from years of obesity, but I am working on reversing those effects.

I know stress is a silent killer which ages you prematurely. I’m doing what I can to flow like water. Stuff happens. My goal is to take that stuff and learn from it without letting it steal my power. The episode with the lice was a killer, but once I turned the corner I promised myself that I would take what I learned and make a difference in someone else’s life. I truly believe that I had to live through it to be able to be in contribution to others.

That’s what I’m learning about life. If I am blessed enough to wake up, there will be a series of obstacles that will challenge me and a series of things that will delight me. Neither is good nor bad, it just is – and the important thing is what I make of each moment. Letting go of trying to control every obstacle in my life allows me to go with the flow, listen, learn and embrace life.

Aging flawlessly means not wasting time worrying about each new gray hair, dark spot, added pound or wrinkle. I look upon them as wisdom badges. Each one tells me a little bit more about who I am, how I’m flowing in life and what adjustments I can make to be the healthiest in mind, body and spirit. I am supposed to get older and eventually die. That’s just the way it works. I won’t fight against it, I will flow with it…going as flawlessly as possible.

Peace Tipping Point

I launch my very first blog and the world goes nuts! The world did go nuts, but not due to my blog launch.

Last night it was announced that Osama Bin Laden was caught and killed. I am conflicted. The reasons are way too long for this blog. The short version is that I was living in NY during 9/11 and was a new employee of a NY based airline. I quickly got sucked into the world of an Airline GSC (or Ground Security Coordinator). I saw heartache, despair, patriotism, brotherhood, love, unity, racism and terror. It was a mash-up of humanity – at it’s best and it’s worst. Those moments are as fresh today as they were back in 2001.

I am relieved that Osama Bin Laden is no longer a threat to the world, but I also realize that he is one man. Terrorism won’t stop just because he’s gone. As a spiritual person, my heart is sad for the loss of life but I don’t see how else this could have ended. Bin Laden was an evil man who had to be stopped. Instead of focusing on Bin Laden and the terrorists, I choose to focus on the families who have been impacted by his reign of terror (in the US and abroad).

I am grateful for every serviceman and woman world wide who put themselves in harms way. I want to thank them and  their families for their sacrifice, and I pray that every single one returns home safe and sound. To the survivors and families who lost loved ones in the terrorist attacks – I am so sorry for your pain and loss. Lastly, I send love for my fellow-man and  prayers for peace out in the Universe with the hope that they will stick. Maybe if enough of us choose love and acceptance we will hit the tipping point for peace.