Living Each Day As Your First

“Rather than living every day as if it’s my last, I’ve shifted to a gentler approach of living every day as if it’s my first. I want to wake up and meet the day with the wonder of a newborn, to cultivate childlike qualities like curiosity and play.”

~Suleika Jaouad

It spontaneously came in and I acted upon it, much to the delight of the Bernese Mountain dogs I was caring for while their human was out of town. It was dinner time and as I was starting to place the food in their bowls I broke out in song and movement – the “Dinner Dance”. The words simply came to me in the moment and the movement a natural part of celebrating meal time.

Much to my joy, as I started in with this improv play the dogs joined me, one singing – not barking, but singing – a unique tune all her own, and the other got up on her hind legs and bounced up and down in her version of the dance. Needless to say I was laughing so hard that I almost spilled their food on the floor moving around the house.

Maddie (dancer) and Luna (singer)

Now you must know that there is a “Breakfast Dance” and song as well. The words are always different except for the very first line that primes the dogs to join in. I never know what will come out of my mouth or what body movements will unwind themselves.

“However you play, it is an act of celebrating your embodiment during the short time you have to give thanks for this gift of life.” ~Joe Primo, Grateful Living

When I saw the quote which begins this post I knew that for me as an elder it is indeed a much gentler way to enter into each day, a heck of a lot more fun, and almost always surprising and engaging. When I choose people to spend time with these days I greatly value if they can play, be curious and have the ability to see the humor and wonder in life…..even within the challenges.

Choosing play and curiosity as consistent options takes being in the moment and trusting what arises, as well as having the courage to be moving to the beat of a different drum other than the narrow confines of the mainstream culture.

Here is one example that arose spontaneously in the moment while living in Austin, TX for awhile. Thankfully I did keep Bubble Bears (plastic bears that raise a bubble wand when you squeeze their tummy) in the car when I found myself in an endless traffic jam. Sensing the tension within myself, and everyone around me, I grabbed a bear, put down my window and blew bubbles. Needless to say I starting smiling as I watched the drivers in the cars near me lighten up as did I. The child within me was very, very happy!

Some days it feels like an endless litany of new challenges to face being in an aging body. I don’t know about you, but for me living as if it is the first day of the rest of my life shifts attention to the childlike qualities of wonder, awe, play, creativity and curiosity.

Indeed, like the elder on the bike in the image at the top of this post who says:

Don’t take life so seriously.

It is not like you’re going to get out alive.

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Gaye Abbott, Wildly Free Elder, 06/14//24