I have been thinking a lot about Dreams and Hopes this past year and when my Six Words just presented themselves last Saturday through my finger tips to my keyboard I knew it was time to stop ignoring this nagging post inside my head, and to get on with it. It’s been here for some time waiting in my drafts. I had started it, worked it, walked away, worked it some more. Wadded it up and trashed it, came back, I started again…. you get my drift.
I find I am really curious about, and wondering (out loud here ) if there is some unwritten rule or law of the lands that informs us when people reach a certain age (no clue) all dreams and hopes must be stifled. Shut down. I don’t know of one actual law or rule of course but it’s there, unspoken. I wonder too if it varies by culture. But we do it. I do it. I’ve been there. Reaching that un-disclosed age when I realize it’s all been put away in a back closet, “the could have beens.” Is it a middle age thing that we all feel? Some regret? I do.
When did we give up on our own hopes and dreams? Why do we turn our back on our bucket list when there are so may years left to feed our souls?
I have to ask myself why?
Why is it the age of 55 is being considered a senior citizen? Really? What then do we say when we refer to my dear friend of mine who is 87 years young and can walk circles around me? She certainly has not given up on one dream, maybe altered them, but give up? No way! What do I say her generation?
One day that age number was an important gauge – today it is clearly outdated. I’ve never reconciled with 55 being what I feel, or 57. I forget.
When it comes to packing up dreams I certainly am no exception to this law or this unwritten rule. The idea that at some point in my middle years I should abandon all my hope and dreams was something I have long wrestled with. I did not want to give anything up. And I don’t do age specific. But the law grabbed me, I was not to be exempt.
All this soul talk has caused me to be aware of some sage wisdom. (I know.. late bloomer.) Living inside just today. It’s a hard concept I know. Yet I am not letting anything stop me from having my dreams and hopes for them to become realities anymore. Mountains Get Outta My Way.
Throwing that age number out the window, and grabbing the ring from the carousel again – not allowing anything but myself stop me from living in the now. Letting go of the past and its hold on me with its tight grip, saying so long for now to my future, she’s not going anywhere without me.
Living inside of today. Looking at my Dreams & Hopes for today. Dreams & a bucket list, why build one I asked myself if your intentions were to put them in a box in the back closet.?
Live inside today, not yesterday, not tomorrow,
I also am finding that I am not 55, or 57 if I live just for today.
I am ageless.
Related articles
- The best bucket lists on the planet from our #4sqdreamcheckin contest winners! (foursquare.com)
- Short & Sweet (literaturexpedition.wordpress.com)
©tjhelser2012
Pingback: “Silence is the Great Healer”, guest post by Barefoot Baroness « iwokeupyesterday
I get it now — you may have to edit us a bit 🙂 – but it is worth pursuing
Hey Lou, that thread was too hard to read anymore. So I just happen to find 59 a perfect age to be friends with ~
Wonderful post BB, often when I look in the mirror I can’t reconcile the face I see with how I feel inside. I’m all for being ageless, I know some pretty awesome people in their 80’s and 90’s and if God grants me the years I hope to use them well, not just exist.
You & Me both optie. I’m really fed up to my bushy eyebrows with other people deciding what is right for you by some determined age. Ridiculous! Yet there seems to be these unwrutten laws.
Brilliant, brilliant – you are so right!
It’s been bothering me for some time. The post has been in my head less than that, but awhile.
It’s a shame that it is true for so many. but not us eh Jules? We are gonna Rock lady friend until we are in our 90’s….. Or die trying anyway..~ BB
Age IS only a number. If you stop dreaming, you might as well die. I’ve a few years on you and you can bet I don’t have a rocking chair. I’m rocking but not in NO chair!
I love it Tess! “I’m rocking but not in a Rocking chair!! You sure are not my friend!!
And I admire the “L” out of you for not stopping. You keep on rocking my dear friend, you are a light that shines the way ~ BB
Is it okay for a nice young guy agree with all that has been said. I thought about numbers and age but recently that has gone out of my proverbial window… nice post My Lady makes us think..
O-most certainly is it allowed.. maybe even encouraged. I see You’re having the courage to live it too.
Adios age & numbers…. I like it.
Thank you my friend. for saying so. ~ BB
“Live inside today” – that is a magical message…
Thank you mimi.
If we could do that …just imagine… ~ BB
Go, BB! This post will encourage many of us. Especially those who feel they are limited by age, which only becomes a problem if we let it.
At 48 I became a fitness instructor, then a collectible and antique dealer, next owned my own business, have written books, have a web site and a blog, etc.
Now I’m seventy-one and…
I’m not dead, and I’m not done.
Blessings to you, BB ~ Maxi
Maxi I want to be like you when I grow up!!
I’m serious my darling friend. You inspire me more than I ever express to you but it’s becasue of women like you who are plowing the firlds for a woman like me. And there are certainly not enough of you.
Mabe that is why I am alsways so enamored when I find such a kindred spirit who has more wisdom than I because of life.
I know age is a useless number because you show me so.
Tou keep on keeping Sister I am right behind you!
“Ageless”–now THAT is a great age!!
oh yeah 1Not counting anymore birthdays.. Social Security might but this Baroness?… not so much. 🙂
Age means nothing to me. I think living with a chronic illness, like you, we learn easier to live each day. Although we do put dreams aside. And it looks as if both of us are getting our dreams back. Great for us!!!
Touche my sweet friend. I don’t bother looking at the past, waisted energy. And the future..? I just know that there has to be one, and it cannot go on without me My future that is..
A future that is seeking those dreams in my bucket list. Funny how priorities change, eh Cee? ~ BB
There comes that time in life when we are forced to recognize mortality and to change our thinking somewhat – like, I am no longer interested in buying little bitty stick bareroot trees. I want something larger, because I want to see it look like a tree. But give up hopes and dreams? Never! Absolutely not! That would be the same as death, would it not?
I so love you Carol. you are good for my soul, so validating you are.
Yes, so much like death, death of a spirit and soul. I feel like I am just coming back from that. So yes, maybe that is it. Mortality. Males so much sense,
I am looking at making dreams and hopes realities, pulling them out where I hid them from myself. Like that would make me forget. That did no work either. Love how dreams just keep knocking on your door.
Thank you carol. I love you visiting. Did you bring wine and ready to sit in for a long chat?
What a timely post, my Friend! I’ve been wrestling with that “law” for a few years now… you know, I was almost convinced that the world belongs to the Young, Thin, & Pretty. But something inside me kept knocking over the pedestal of Eternal Youth & tapping me on the shoulder, whispering “You still have work to do.” It’s Crazy Annie, of course, and you know how she gets when she’s All Fired Up. Thank you for this wonderfully validating post! Blessings to you! : )
Hey my Girlfriend of the wind! how you crazy Annie girl. So good to see you my friend. Aww. you choke me up lady,
So what is up with us buying into that in the first place? I mean we never did follow the beaten path so why now Val?
It was starting to depress me BIG time, like is this all there is? And at what cost to us?
It is up to me to make that into something that moves my soul. Or a lot of something’s.
I’m so happy to se you, even if it was age thing that brought you here to me today. LOL..
I hate the age thing – always have–too young, too old–we are not too anything–I am with you and my dreams are intact–funny, my post today was similar to yours in topic
Its disgusting really how we let it rule us. Not this Baroness, no more!!
We’ll start a new movement, Ageless! All Possibilities!
I am signing up!
LouAnn I make you our CEO gir!!
Now we have to have followers, well not followers., What would be a better word?
We’re on a world mission….
We should start a group–
Oh Lou,, can I call you lou? I should ask, eh?
I agree, we shuld. If you create the blog i will be your biggest source of support. All positive. I’d do it but I have 4 blogs i participate in. two of my own, BB here, and FullCircledMe, Bring them Home I am co-admin with, and then I also guest post for Cyklopps Rides Again, all music, all 60’s & 70’s related. (have you seen? if you are into music a great new blog)
Think about it. I think it is a fabulous idea!
Most certainly call me Lou — and you just may have an idea here and only the young at heart can participate (seriously I am really not that old at all)–I will have to check out your other blogs–you are one busy girl
Thanks Lou. Feels right.
I knew you were a young thing stil.. see age matters none.
Little sisters are precious to me.
Do think about it. Yes and only those young at heart, who refuse to grow-up need apply,
My two blogs are this one Barefoot, and FullCircledMe it’s still fairly young but I will do all my chronic pain stuff there, http://fullcircledme.wordpress.com/
then there is the Missing Children’s blog the I am co-admin with http://geeton1.wordpress.com/
The music blog Cyklopps Rides Again from just posting Classic Rock n Roll to wriitng about it and the times. I’ve done about 10 posst there. I say the least amount ther for teh most part although there are a few memories Tha iI did a narative about after requests. I love this bloga nd believe in its inception too.
It is at:
http://geetoni.wordpress.com/
They look alike the URL’s, but you can see they are different.
Hope to see you around them too. thanks for asking. it keeps me out of trouble this way. 😉
Hugs Girlfriend ~ BB
I am betting that though I am immature I am probably a wee bit older than you
Really? I don’t believe you are immature, young at heart but not immature.. Are you really older than me?
Okay – the big reveal – I am 59
2 yrs? pfftt!! You nut! I was born in 55, how aboutt you? 53?
yes – 53 — youngster!
Lou, go to bottom of comments please
I am so dense- what do you mean?
This thread to our comments here looks wonky on my end when trying to read it because we have said so much.. I am suggeting we start clean, at the bottom of my page like you were leaving a brand new comment. I hope you are not having trouble reading these.
Isn’t this the truth! Thanks for the reminder, my bloggy big sis!
Yeah, we should never give up. Too much life left!
Thanks Jude honey, love that you are such a devoted. blibling ~ BB
Me too, you, my bloggy big sis!
🙂