Aging gratefully

I have written two posts in the past about aging ruthlessly, and the main point with them was to be better in the second half of your life than you were in the first.

• Stay healthy
• stay strong
• refuse to be marginalized by a culture that does not respect age

I still believe in those things, but today, I want to focus on aging gratefully (not to be confused with the cliché “aging gracefully”, whatever that means).

A couple of months ago I got blind-sided by a medical emergency, but thank GOD I survived it. In looking back, it didn’t make any sense why such a thing would happen, especially since I get plenty of exercise, eat very clean, get plenty of sleep and don’t drink alcohol, smoke, or take drugs.

Regardless of all that, it did happen. It brought me very much in touch with my own mortality. When you realize your death could be only hours, minutes, or seconds away you will never look at life the same way again.

Needless to say, I am very grateful to still be alive and that my health has improved a lot since then. Some people trust in the universe, I trust in the LORD.

I am so grateful just to wake up each morning and be able to get up, go out, and live a robust and vigorous lifestyle.

Every little thing seems amazing to me now. I have always loved the simple things in life, like being with my gorgeous wife, or watching  a beautiful sunrise or sunset, feeling the sun on my skin, feeling a gentle tropical breeze. They all make me feel so much gratitude I really cannot describe it very well.

Having my health and strength restored is an amazing gift, things I will never take for granted ever again.

I am grateful for many things. What are you grateful for today?