I’m sure most of us would heartily agree that life has a way of wearing us down. As for myself, there are times when I feel just plain worn out. Yet when I take a closer look at what’s going on, I may realize that I’m not physically tired, I’m just mentally tired. When life wears on us long enough or hard enough, we may reach some point where we want to just throw in the towel. That doesn’t mean we’re going to do something drastic! It may simply mean that we’ve lost that zest; that in our daily obligations and responsibilities, we’re just “going through the motions.”
I bet that if you think about it, you’ll find you know someone like that. That person may even be you.
The reality for some of us is that life doesn’t just feel hard, it is hard, and survival is the order of each day. But for those of us with the blessings of ease, a roof over our heads, food on our tables and a level of health that allows us to put our feet on the floor each morning, the accumulation of life’s smaller battles may still have us feeling weary.
Decades of earning a living. Struggling to improve our status in life. Getting the kids raised. Managing our homes. Managing our lives. Disappointments we’ve taken in stride. Complications. Unexpected betrayals. It’s enough to make a person tired, just reading it! Yet these are the realities of life that add up day after day, year after year, and happen while we’re getting older and with less physical energy to count on! Is it any wonder we might lose some fire, and some desire? Desire to work on our appearance; desire to take care of our health; desire to connect with others, or do the things that once felt important? Sometimes it feels like it’s all just too much, that we have little left to give not just to others, but to our own selves.
When we get to this place, is there a way to turn it around? Can we do a mental reset, reach inside and find the energy to not be tired? I don’t want to make the assumption that that is the right course of action for everyone, because maybe it’s not. Or maybe it could be, but just not right now. Whatever the situation, it’s ours to figure out; ours to plot the best path forward to peace and to a meaningful life.
In considering all my options, I am inspired by those who, even into their advancing years, exude an energy that is fresh. A vibe that says, “I am still here, I am still alive and I am still relevant.” This is the person who will not be easily discounted – not by the younger generation, not by family, not by the person across the table from them in a job interview.
But, if we are one of those who has fallen victim to the doldrums as the years have ticked by, there is always the possibility we will experience a change of heart. It may come in one sweeping moment where suddenly, we see our life differently. But oftentimes newfound energy will appear not through one momentous decision, but as a byproduct of smaller kinks we’ve worked out. For your consideration, I would like to offer up the following ideas that may be helpful. In the words of the kids, these could be considered some life hacks:
When it comes to energy suckers, avoid them. These are situations (or people) that drain your resources, and don’t give back. Treat your energy like you would your money; know when you’re making an unwise investment and when it’s time to pull out.
Running too fast – this is literally being so over-obligated that you don’t have time to take care of things that are important to you. Getting to a better quality of life may require some pruning of your schedule.
Get some pizazz back in your life! That’s not pizza, although that certainly sparks up my world. Figure out what can be brought into your life that will actually make you feel excited to wake up in the morning. It may be something big and bold, it may be something small and easily obtained. You, alone, know what will fit that bill.
Don’t believe the old adage that becoming physically run down or out of shape as we get older is inevitable. It’s not true, and each of us probably knows at least one person in our life who proves it’s not. Vitality may not be as easy as it once was, but if our health and life circumstances allow, we may have a choice in how fit and how awesome we are going to look and feel.
Well, that’s my offering. While writing this, my thoughts have continually gone to the ideas of living “young” and looking “young,” but I’ve consciously avoided those phrases. We live in a youth-worshipping culture, yes, but when it comes to quality of life or what is or isn’t attractive, who says that “young” equates with good and “old” equates with bad? Certainly not me. What I hope for as I get old is for what some call “living young,” and that is to try to be the best version of my aging self that I can be. Now if I can just keep up the energy for doing that, I’ll be well on my way.
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