Those words have been indelibly etched into the minds and psyches of so many, and often thought to refer to the process of dying, to the last days of life, surely for the person wrinkled and worn by the years--but the message is as much for the firm as the infirm. "Close of day" may just as surely refer to each and every day, or each and every moment,as it may refer to the end of life.
The truth is, the words of Thomas's most famous poem can be taken literally or with a more open and figurative interpretation. I'd like to think that Baby Boomers have chosen the latter, and are embracing the more liberal interpretation by living life with gusto--not just the "end days," but each and every day along the way. Isn't shying away from life's thrills and pleasures a little like dying, day by day? Being afraid of living, to be too cautious or too rigid is surely an early toll of the death knell.
Old age has been characterized in literature all too often as one thing or another--crotchety folk screaming at a youngster to get out of their yard, blue-haired spinsters with puckered faces giving the evil eye to passers-by, or even the old couple sitting on the front porch, rocking away their time left on earth. Stereotypes may be useful in writing, but they pervade our thinking and plant false ideas and expectations.
Oh yes, old has an attitude, all right--but it's not just one attitude! "Old" is actually an attitude in and of itself, something that says "giving in," "useless," "worn out." Let's face it--there are people of just about every age group that can fit that description, and it has absolutely nothing to do with years spent alive.
Life seems to be as much about "burning and raving" in the beginning and middle of its span, as it is at the end. Giving in isn't mandatory, ever; putting forth our best effort at all times seems to be the stuff of living. In our middle years, the "burning and raving" isn't as loud and boisterous as it was in our twenties and thirties, but experience has taught us that there are alternate ways to get goals accomplished. So, while we may not be carrying placards on the street or shouting our ideas aloud to all who will hear, we are using more creative avenues to further our causes.
Go To Page: 1 2
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Deb Jones's Senior Lifestyle topic, please visit the Discussions page.