080: Existing or Living: What's the Difference?

There's an old cartoon I have somewhere in my files that shows a wise-looking, bearded guru sitting on a mountain top.

In front of him is a hiker who's apparently traveled a great distance to ask him the timeless question: "what is the meaning of life...?"

The caption reveals the hiker's response to the guru's apparent answer to his question: "You mean I do the hokey-pokey and turn myself around...and THAT'S what it's all about!?"

If only life were that simple...right?

Although a simple approach to the complexities of life and aging could be useful.

Why do we complicate things or make life more difficult for ourselves than it needs to be?

I'll admit that being simplistic sells more these days since there seems to be a social media post or a meme solution for life's challenges - aging included.

It's important from the outset that you not confuse simplicity with being simplistic.

Much of our culture's remedies for what ails-ya is nothing more than a simplistic sound-byte that lacks compelling depth and longterm sustainability.

I'm a fan of simplicity but remain somewhat discerning about what sounds too simplistic.

So, in my own guru-like way allow me to attempt to simplify things relative to aging and the often asked question: how do you age effectively and with meaning?

The simple answer: LIVE!

There's a compelling difference between living and merely existing - and it's key to effective, meaningful aging

Look at it this way - your mere existence is the God-given, default-setting, the baseline (if you would).

Living, on the other hand, is defined by the daily choices you make and the overall purpose that adds life to your years and builds your legacy.

In essence, existence is a gift but living is a choice!

In the book of Deuteronomy in the Bible's Old Testament, the writer supports that idea:

"I place before you, life and death...Choose life..." 1

With respect to the broader context, I've often wondered why when given a choice (as stated) between life or death, the writer makes the somewhat obvious statement to "Choose life."

Alternatives being what they are, the same could be said about whether you choose to merely exist or to choose life with all its opportunities, discoveries, and challenges.

It's beneficial and empowering to know that you can choose - however it practically plays out for you.

• Choose to live rooted
• Choose to live realistically
• Choose to live proactively

Live rooted

Rooted living creates a readiness and an anchoring effect for what life throws at you.

It's vital that you sink your roots deeply into ideas, opportunities, and values that anchor you and sustain you when life occasionally takes a challenging turn.

I have an appreciation for trees not only for their shade but also for the vast, sustaining network of roots that steady them for facing environmental forces.

The deeper your roots the greater your ability to withstand the challenges of life as you age.

• Deepen your roots informationally through reading broadly, listening intuitively, and limiting your exposure to fluff content or media bias.
• Deepen your roots relationally by spending time with replenishing people.
• Deepen your roots physically through movement - walk, run, step, stretch...just move...and do so often!

Live realistically

Overthinking, over-planning, or overdoing has a way of disconnecting you from the reality of pure and simple action.

Like your rootedness, a more reality-based approach to living keeps you focused and grounded instead of scattered and flighty.

Reality-centered living is about preventing your dream, goals, or intentions from being hijacked by overthinking.

On the contrary, keeping things real enables you take action without fear of failure (which is generally what overthinking is about).

• Step into your real fears and build new courage by doing the things you think aren't possible.
• Accept reality without losing hope that your circumstances can indeed improve with growth.
• Believe that you can deal with your present and future realities through the resilience you've developed from doing and enduring hard-things.

Live proactively

You can spend your life reacting to life's circumstances.

Or...

You can take responsibility for what's within your scope of influence.

Control is an elusive pursuit especially when you feel inclined to react rather than respond proactively to whatever you're currently dealing with.

Proactive living is about solutions - why nots instead of what ifs.

It's easy to what-if yourself into a rut of fear and inactivity as you age.

There's always a "what-if boogie-man" around the corner threatening your health, your well-being, or your next best choice to enjoy or improve your life.

• Choose to see the opportunities around you - excuses weaken resolve.
• Choose to own responsibility when necessary - blame creates gaps and misunderstandings.
• Choose your perspective regardless of the circumstances - faith opens the door to solutions.

Living really is what-it's-all-about, so go ahead, do something (the hokey-pokey perhaps) and turn-yourself-around

• Live rooted
• Live realistically
• Live proactively

Press on...

Eddie

Sources:

1 - Deuteronomy 30:19-20, MSG Translation