Growing older is different than growing up. I know many who are grown in age and stature. However, their personality, mentality and reasonableness is far from what their age should indicate. Gray hair wisdom, anyone?
Somewhere they lost their ability to be sensible.
sen·si·ble | \ ˈsen(t)-sə-bəl …. having, containing, or indicative of good sense or reason : RATIONAL, REASONABLE
We all know this to be a fact: sometimes we do not act or reason with a sensible approach to life. Emotions. Reactions. Words. Aggression. Politics. Culture. These are just a few of the descriptions of life that make us respond from a non-reasonable viewpoint.
I heard a statement on a radio talk show about our reactions to life.
We react 4 times more to disappointments or failures
than we do to success or happiness.
Think about your reactions to something negative that affects you personally, and you will probably see a form of this truth. Our reactions are often insensible. It’s like we revert to an earlier self. Terrible Two’s anyone? Hormone driven teen-years are revisited. Pouting. Tempers. Vitriolic words.
How many times have we heard about friends having a “second childhood”? The older guys want younger wives, hot cars, or even motorcycles.
Let’s see. I had a motorcycle in my teens, married my dream, and got to drive my brothers Mercury Montego in the ’70s. Guess that works for me! Happiness. Contentment. Keeping myself safe from the edge that can so easily collapse.
I’m not looking to change me just because I’m growing older. I want to be sensible!
Think About It
If there is anything I want to do is to constantly find improvements as I age. Most successes of recent times and ancient scripture point me down the path of constant improvements. What I read, watch, listen to, think about, and do… Hmmm… Thimk and Do!
Thimk and Do (Click to Read my thought on Thimk!)
If I’ve learned anything in my life, everything hinges on attitude. I mentioned it yesterday but I know it’s that constant discussion I have with myself to keep my attitude clean and focused.
“The longer I live,
the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude, to me, is more important than facts.
It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes,
than what other people think or say or do.
It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill.
It will make or break a company…a church….a home.
The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day.
We cannot change our past…we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way.
We cannot change the inevitable.
The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude…
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.
And so it is with you…we are in charge of our attitudes.”
― Charles Swindoll
Today. I want to keep my attitude toward acting sensibly. Growing old gracefully while growing up.
Have a blessed day. If I can pray with you, or talk with you about challenges, please reach out to me. “I’m listening!”
I want to keep growing older sensibly.
No second childhoods.
No missed opportunities.
Just being sensible and full of wisdom!